Wilson lists high infrastructure needs

Wilson County has some of the most infrastructure needs among Tennessee counties.

Tennessee counties need at least $38 billion worth of infrastructure, according to a new report.

The top tier, which includes Davidson and Shelby counties, lists infrastructure needs totaling between $2.5 billion-$2.7 billion.

Wilson County is among the second tier, which lists infrastructure needs totaling $400 million-$1.5 billion.

The report, released by the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, is based on information provided by local government and state agencies shows that least $38 billion worth of public infrastructure improvements need to be in some stage of development during state fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

To be included in the inventory, infrastructure projects must not be considered normal maintenance and must involve a capital cost of at least $50,000.

Public infrastructure needs, as reported by state and local officials, increased $1.2 billion or 3.3 percent since the June 2011 report, which covered the five-year period of 2010 through 2014.

Current infrastructure needs fall into six general categories: transportation and utilities; education; health, safety and welfare; recreation and culture; economic development; and general government.

Transportation and government topped the list at $19.1 billion in needed improvements throughout the state.

“Public infrastructure is one of the most important things government can provide to encourage economic development. This inventory is not just a catalog of infrastructure needs. It’s a guide for improving quality of life in Tennessee,” said Sen. Mark Norris, TACIR’s chairman.