New Hampshire Infrastructure Earns C Grade in Report
Contractors and utilities in New Hampshire face aging bridges and water systems alongside a shrinking technical workforce.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Do you think New Hampshire's infrastructure is getting better or worse in your area?
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave New Hampshire's infrastructure an overall C grade in its newly released report card. The grade is a step down from the state's C-minus in the 2017 report, and bridges, drinking water, and wastewater systems also drew low marks.
Why it matters
Contractors, engineering firms, and utilities operating in New Hampshire face a state infrastructure base that has relied on occasional federal dollars rather than steady state funding. Persistent technical workforce shortages make it harder to complete the structural work that a low grade calls for.
New Hampshire's overall infrastructure grade is C, down from C-minus in the 2017 report, with bridges averaging 65 years old against a typical 50-year design life. Wastewater infrastructure received a D-plus, while aviation infrastructure earned a B-minus, and the federal government sent the state's airports $50 million in infrastructure aid.
The players
American Society of Civil Engineers
A professional engineering membership organization that publishes periodic infrastructure report cards grading U.S. states and national systems.
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport
The primary commercial airport serving southern New Hampshire, cited in the report for on-time flight performance.
The details
The grades come from local engineers who evaluated the state's infrastructure systems, with separate ratings for bridges, drinking water, solid waste, wastewater, and aviation. Bridges are aging past their intended lifespans, and municipal bridges average 56 years old, which raises maintenance and replacement demands on local budgets. The state's landfills have capacity for ten more years of in-state trash disposal, which puts pressure on waste haulers and municipalities to plan for alternatives.
Timeline
2017: The previous American Society of Civil Engineers report card gave New Hampshire a C-minus.
November 4, 2026: The American Society of Civil Engineers released its new infrastructure report card.
Market Landscape
The American Society of Civil Engineers report card series has tracked New Hampshire's infrastructure since at least 2017, when the state received a C-minus. The new C grade marks a modest improvement, though bridges, water, and wastewater remain in the low ranges.
Contractors and engineering firms should expect growing demand for bridge inspection, rehabilitation, and water system work in New Hampshire. Businesses that rely on reliable water, waste, and airport service should monitor local budget decisions for signs of increased investment.
The takeaway
Workforce recruitment and retention is the constraint the report flags, so staffing and training capacity is the variable to watch for infrastructure contractors. Track the landfill capacity timeline, since the estimated ten years of disposal room will shape waste handling decisions for haulers and municipalities well before it runs out.
Further reading
Explore more on Utilities and how states are maintaining the systems that deliver water, power, and waste services to New Hampshire businesses.
Source note: This article includes information reported by New Hampshire Public Radio.
Live Poll
Do you think New Hampshire's infrastructure is getting better or worse in your area?
