What Can Be Done to Prevent Collapse Seen In Texas This Week?

An investigation is underway to find out what caused the collapse of an Irving, Texas parking garage earlier this week. Nobody was injured when part of the top level of the structure collapsed, damaging cars on multiple levels. However, the collapse of piece of public property is something nobody should be victim to and it raises questions about the state of American infrastructure.

Earlier this year, the American Society of Civil Engineers released its report card on the state of American infrastructure for 2017– and the final grade was a worrisome D+. The report card grades several different aspects of American infrastructure, evaluating everything from bridges, roads, schools, aviation, and even drinking water.

Although the ASCE has composed several report cards since 1988 that have dismal ratings, the cost of fixing these issues has risen dramatically. The report estimates more than $4.5 trillion in funding is to get the nation’s infrastructure back in working order. The cost of poor infrastructure is also not simply in annoying potholes or deteriorating dams and bridges—there is a significant economic impact that affects everything from job losses to GDP. An impact too costly to ignore.

According to a 2016 report by the ASCE, the losses accrued as a result of poor infrastructure are alarming to say the least. By 2025, the report estimates $3.9 trillion in losses to United States GDP, $7 trillion in lost business sales, and a staggering 2.5 million lost American jobs as a direct result of this crisis.

The cost is felt directly at home by consumers as well, with an average of $3,400 in disposable income lost for American families every year. The state of American infrastructure is currently in shambles and in a desperate need for public and private investment. As the economy continues to grow, jobs continue to be created, and Wall Street continues to prosper, fixing roads and bridges could very well be the final piece in bringing back competent American infrastructure.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

EPCOM and Icom
Icom and EPCOM Showcase Real-World Impact of Trusted Communications at IWCE 2025
April 4, 2025

At the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) 2025—an event focused on mission-critical communications for industries like public safety and utilities—EPCOM and Icom stood out by demonstrating how trusted technology and long-term partnerships can deliver real impact. Representing EPCOM, Director of Customer Success Abril Rodriguez highlighted the company’s role as a long-time partner and recent U.S….

Read More
Icom
New Telex-Icom Compatibility Enables Channel Change, ANI, and Emergency Decode from Dispatch
April 4, 2025

At this year’s International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE), Telex and Icom introduced an important step forward in critical communications: the integration of Telex dispatch consoles with Icom’s P25 mobile radios. This new compatibility allows dispatchers to access key radio functions—such as channel change, ANI (Automatic Number Identification), and emergency alert decoding—directly from the Telex console. The…

Read More
The Future of AI in Education Starts with Empowering Teachers
April 4, 2025

Teachers are overburdened, overwhelmed, and often under-supported. Take the school year of 2022-23 for example — During the year, the average K–12 educator was found to juggle a whopping 49 digital tools. This digital overload, compounded by post-COVID challenges, has not only tethered teachers to their desks but eroded the essential human connection in…

Read More
port
FuturePorts Reimagines Port Leadership and Innovation in Logistics
April 3, 2025

As global trade logistics falls under more and more pressure to be faster, greener, and more transparent, port authorities and stakeholders are facing a new kind of challenge: how to modernize infrastructure while balancing environmental and community demands. Ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach are at the epicenter of innovation and scrutiny,…

Read More