RI Has Bumpiest Rural Roads in US
Monday, September 06, 2010
Very bumpy, in fact, according to the Reason Foundation's most recent assessment of roads and bridges across the country. In fact, Alaska and the Ocean State lay claim to the bumpiest rural roads in the country. Other black marks: the nation's worst rating on bridge conditions, and least cost-effective state highway system, according to a number of measures compiled by the Los Angeles-based think tank.
On the bright side, Rhode Island's rural and urban interstates are rated the best in the country; and the interstate fatality rate is third best in the nation.
Rhode Island's overall ranking has been falling in the last several years, but overall, the Reason Foundation reports that state highway conditions are the best they’ve been in 19 years. Unfortunately, according to the Foundation, the recession is partly responsible for the improvement in road conditions: people are driving less which has helped slow pavement deterioration and reduced traffic congestion and fatalities.
The annual study measures the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-owned roads in 11 categories, including deficient bridges, urban traffic congestion, fatality rates, pavement condition on urban and rural Interstates and on major rural roads, and the number of unsafe narrow rural lanes. National performance in all of those key areas improved in 2008, the most recent year with complete data available.
For a summary of how Rhode Island's roads and bridges fared on these and other measures, go here.
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