Engineering America’s Next 250 Years
As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is proud of the contributions of our members in designing, building, operating and maintaining the infrastructure that has helped this country grow from coast to coast. The work our members are doing right now will leave a lasting impact on this great nation and around the world for many generations to come spanning every infrastructure sector.
Since ASCE was founded nearly 175 years ago, our singular focus has been advancing health, safety and public welfare by advocating for and improving infrastructure systems across the United States and far beyond through codes, standards, training and innovations. As infrastructure needs have evolved and grown, our members have adapted and expanded their skillsets and knowledge to imagine, develop, build and maintain systems that have taken America from the Gilded Age to the digital era.
From basic infrastructure 250 years ago, the needs have progressed and the tools and technology have changed dramatically to help improve the speed and scale of how infrastructure is delivered. Generations of civil engineers have spent their careers designing infrastructure, remaining singularly focused on ensuring those systems improve quality of life and protect public safety.
Ambitious infrastructure programs across America’s history have spurred economic growth, generated jobs and helped advance American innovation. Work to complete the transcontinental railroad connected America from coast to coast, projects built through the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression improved communities big and small and development of the Interstate Highway System improved the quality and speed of travel among cities nationwide. The development of water ports has supported international trade and airports have allowed travel and commerce to thrive.
Infrastructure investment benefits Americans. As projects from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) get completed, communities across the country will see the benefits of improved roads, new bridges, improved water infrastructure and other infrastructure projects that will upgrade or replace systems that were built multiple decades ago. ASCE has used the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure as a tool to inform the public about the condition of America’s infrastructure and the 2025 report card gave America’s infrastructure its highest grade ever, a ‘C.’
America’s 250th is more than a time to celebrate our past; it is an opportunity to recommit to finding ways to make our country and profession stronger, infrastructure. A ‘C’ grade for America’s infrastructure is not a grade that reflects the potential of this great nation and improving that grade requires vision, cooperation and investment from the public and private sector. ASCE’s economic reports make it clear that infrastructure investment benefits all Americans and with the IIJA funding expiring in September, one of the Society’s top priorities is getting the next infrastructure investment bill to the finish line in Washington so momentum keeps us moving forward. Returning to pre-IIJA investment levels puts infrastructure progress in jeopardy. Planning infrastructure projects requires extensive effort before any design and delivery are complete, the goal should be consistent, sustainable, reliable infrastructure funding so communities have the ability to plan long-term and develop projects without fear funding could vanish.
ASCE is committed to the future of the profession. Civil engineers and their teams, like many other professionals, are faced with a wave of retirements from those who have dedicated multiple decades to their calling. ASCE has worked tirelessly to introduce students from all communities to the profession and recruit them to become the next generation of civil engineers. We have inspired them with our movies, “Dream Big” and “Cities of the Future”. This important work spans all educational levels, starting at elementary school and continuing with programs that support civil engineering students and young professionals as they enter the field. Now, more than ever, we need the best and the brightest to join our team.
The celebration of America’s 250th anniversary is an occasion to celebrate the many great accomplishments of this nation. Civil engineers have been there since the start and will be there for America’s next 250 years and beyond to support the continued success of this country.
By Marsha Anderson Bomar, Ph.D., H.ITE, AICP, ENV SP, NAE, F.ASCE. She is the 2026 ASCE President. She can be reached at klongley@asce.org
This column is featured in the July / August issue of American Infrastructure; read the print version.
