Brady PieperAmerica’s roads, bridges and highways, both urban and rural, represent a major driver of economic growth and connectivity throughout the nation. However, portions of the country’s transportation system are aging, resulting in poor road conditions, safety concerns, costly car repairs for drivers and inefficiencies that hinder truck and freight movement.
According to an analysis from ConsumerAffairs, road conditions across the country vary, with some states facing deteriorating infrastructure that adds costs for motorists. Sourcing data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the report evaluates all 50 states and ranks the states with the worst and best road conditions in the country.
For public road conditions, the FHWA compiles information from state authorities to create a nationwide database of road networks for various functional systems, such as rural major collectors, urban minor arterials and urban major and minor collectors. State authorities submit data using the International Roughness Index (IRI) or the Present Serviceability Ratings system to provide insights on the conditions of these road networks.
In addition to road condition insights, the ConsumerAffairs report weighted state’s data on car accident fatalities per 100 million miles traveled for 2022. Both these conditions and safety metrics were combined to create a ranking for the worst and best roads in America.
The States With the Worst Roads
- New Mexico: Topping the list of states with the worst road conditions is New Mexico, where more than 30% of rural roads and nearly 42% of urban roads are in poor condition, according to federal data. The state also ranks third highest in traffic fatality rate nationally, with 1.74 per 100,000,000 miles traveled. Recently, the state proposed new legislation that would direct $1.5 billion in bonds to transportation services and infrastructure.
- Mississippi: With approximately 18,000 miles of rural roads, Mississippi holds the highest amount of rural roads in poor condition. Roughly 27.6% of rural roads and 40.9% of urban roads are in disrepair. The state also faces one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the country, at 1.76 per 100,000,000 miles traveled.
- Hawaii: The island state of Hawaii ranks as the third worst state for road conditions in the country, primarily due to the state’s high percentage of poor-quality urban roads. As the tropical climate is a contributor, 44.3% of urban roads are in poor condition and 28.5% of rural roads fall within the same category. Notably, the state’s traffic fatality rate is lower than other high-ranking states, with 1.13 fatalities per 100,000,000 miles traveled.
The States With the Best Roads
- Indiana: Receiving gold marks, Indiana ranks top overall for road conditions in the report. The state boasts 5.3% of urban roads and 2.5% of rural roads in poor condition with the seventh-lowest traffic fatality rate in the nation at 0.99 per 100 million miles traveled.
- Alabama: Among the states with the best roads, Alabama ranks second with high percentages of good road conditions. Only 3.5% of urban roads and 1.3% of rural roads are rated in poor condition. The state’s rate of traffic fatalities is 1.38 per 100,000,000 miles traveled.
- Idaho: Idaho places third in the report’s rankings. The state has 10.1% of urban roads and 4% of rural roads in poor condition with 1.12 fatalities per 100,000,000 miles traveled.
The report also highlights several federal and state efforts aiming to tackle road quality issues, including the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. However, federal funding freezes leave future funding opportunities for roads and infrastructure uncertain.
While it should be noted that states vary in how they manage and improve roads, municipalities across the country are adopting several strategies to mitigate road hazards and traffic congestion. These strategies seek to reduce reliance on driving and mitigate the erosion of road surfaces.
Some states, including California and Florida, are pursuing extensive state and regional rail plans to improve multimodal connectivity throughout major population hubs and centers. Among these, Santa Cruz County in California has unveiled an update to a nearly $1 billion conceptual plan to bring passenger rail service and multi-use paths throughout the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line.
Smaller local and regional municipalities are designing city plans that implement sustainable, walkable infrastructure with integrated public transit systems. In Virginia, the Suffolk City Council approved a $2 billion Community Improvement Plan to guide the city’s investments and overhaul infrastructure over the next 10 years.
