States with the worst (and best) road conditions

 

A new ConsumerAffairs analysis ranks U.S. states by road quality, revealing stark differences in infrastructure conditions nationwide, with New Mexico, Mississippi and Rhode Island among the worst, and Indiana, Minnesota and Vermont leading for best roads. The report underscores how deferred maintenance, climate stressors and increased traffic contribute to deteriorating road conditions and higher costs for drivers. Jennifer Perkins, government industry specialist at Brightly Software, notes that delaying maintenance to balance short-term budgets often leads to higher long-term costs and increased safety risks, reinforcing the need for lifecycle-based infrastructure planning.