SKOKIE, IL - This week crews are scheduled to pour concrete to close the final gap on the new I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis. With a reported 100-year life span, 10 lanes of traffic, and the ability to accommodate future light rail transport, the new St. Anthony Falls Bridge is an example of a quality infrastructure project.

Yet, it is one of a needed many.

Population increases are expected to put even more pressure on roads and highways. Today, traffic congestion in United States wastes three billion gallons of fuel and contributes 27.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to a report from the Portland Cement Association (PCA), a Skokie-Ill.-based trade group. The overall economic impact of traffic delays adds up to $80 billion per year.

By the year 2032, the U.S. population is expected to reach 363.5 million persons, adding an estimated 49 million drivers and 58 million vehicles to America's highways. Wasted fuel from traffic delays will more than double, to 6.5 billion gallons. Carbon dioxide emissions traced to congestion will increase to 60 million tons.

"Without improvements to our roads and highways, wasted time and higher transportation costs will result in a cumulative economic impact of $150 billion annually," says PCA president/CEO Brian McCarthy. "There is a lot of discussion about high fuel prices, but the real issue is infrastructure spending--how it affects highway capacity, traffic congestion, fuel use, and even carbon dioxide emissions."

Just to maintain our current levels of congestion while accommodating population growth, we will need 400,000 additional lane miles of highways by 2032.