West Virginia is the #7 state with the worst road conditions
This story originally appeared on Uplift Legal Funding and was produced and distributed in partnership with 麻豆原创 Studio.
West Virginia is the #7 state with the worst road conditions
The average American drives close to miles a year, and with many roads and bridges across the country being below subpar level, the U.S. Senate passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that will improve the country鈥檚 aging roads and bridges. - The infrastructure spending will also chart a course for a clear energy future and entail the expansion of broadband, provide replacement of harmful lead-piped drinking water systems, add new sewer systems, and expand and modernize passenger rail and transit systems. compiled a list of states where roads are in the worst condition, using data from the . States were issued an infrastructure report card and graded based on the conditions of its roads and bridges. The White House details the significant investment needs taking into account the regional variations when it comes to road quality, funding commuting patterns as well as other factors.
Using the fact sheet and 2019 data from the, Uplift identified the states with the lowest percentage of acceptable roads. Acceptable road condition is determined by a road鈥檚 score on the international roughness index, a measure determining the smoothness of the road鈥檚 surface.
Read on to see how well your state maintains its roads, or see the top 15 .
West Virginia by the numbers
- Percent of road mileage in acceptable condition: 68.9% (7,147.7 miles)
- Total road mileage: 10,369.8 miles
West Virginia boasts natural beauty with numerous rivers, lakes, and mountains making it an ideal location for activities such as hiking and boating. The state鈥檚 infrastructure, however, has deteriorated over the years, while repairs and overall maintenance have not kept pace with the required needs. West Virginia has 1,545 bridges with 1,531 being structurally deficient.
Over the next five years, the state could expect to receive $506 million for repairs to bridges through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Additionally, 3,200 miles of are in inadequate condition. For its non-tolled roadways, West Virginia uses funds from local and state taxes to upgrade its public roadway system.
In addition to being frustrating, poor road conditions are linked to reduced safety, more traffic, and increased vehicle costs. Idaho however has proven to be proficient in its road maintenance with 96.4% of its road mileage in acceptable condition. Wyoming also has a positive rating with 94.7% of its road mileage in good condition.
Keep reading to see which states have the best and worst road conditions.
States where roads are in the best condition
#1. Idaho: 96.4% (3,968.0 miles) of roads in acceptable condition
#2. Wyoming: 94.7% (6,793.6 miles) of roads in acceptable condition
#3. Tennessee: 94.7% (4,800.1 miles) of roads in acceptable condition
States where roads are in the worst condition
#1. Rhode Island: 49.7% (849.2 miles) of roads in acceptable condition
#2. New Jersey: 53% (4,081.8 miles) of roads in acceptable condition
#3. Hawaii: 57.2% (889.5 miles) of roads in acceptable condition
