Don't take America as a whole when certain parts are nowhere near that inefficient. It also depends on if you're talking at a federal, state, or city level. Where I live, the city is extremely quick at repairing all aspects of issues around the city. As I've said before, when the blizzards and ice storms hit around here, the streets were clear the very next day. Potholes and water main breaks are repaired the same day they're reported.
I even called once about a break on Thanksgiving, and there was someone there 2 hours later doing investigative work.