Stacker Studio

Connecticut is the #5 state with the worst road conditions

Written by:
November 30, 2021
barbsimages // Shutterstock

This story originally appeared on Uplift Legal Funding and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

Connecticut is the #5 state with the worst road conditions

The average American drives close to 13,500 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’s 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. Uplift Legal Funding compiled a list of states where roads are in the worst condition, using data from the White House Infrastructure Fact Sheet. 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 Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Uplift identified the states with the lowest percentage of acceptable roads. Acceptable road condition is determined by a road’s score on the international roughness index, a measure determining the smoothness of the road’s surface.

Read on to see how well your state maintains its roads, or see the top 15 here.

Connecticut by the numbers

- Percent of road mileage in acceptable condition: 66% (4,185.2 miles)
- Total road mileage: 6,339.7 miles

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) has its eyes set on the multibillion budget set aside for infrastructure projects. State officials hope to build newer bus systems in the Connecticut cities of New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford and replace bridges on the New Haven rail line, among other infrastructure goals.

CTDOT’s five-year capital plan anticipates $5.9 billion will go toward highway and bridge initiatives, $3.5 billion will support public transportation efforts, and $245 million will be allocated toward other areas of need. The state also wants the funds to modernize transit by creating electric vehicle charging stations statewide and speeding up existing chargers in already congested areas. In the past, long-term funding has been a challenge for Connecticut. Lawmakers in the state remain divided on implementing a truck-only tolls system, an increasingly popular solution when it comes to creating funding.

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

Trending Now