Methodology

Photo Credit: Ronstik / Shutterstock

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s 2024 Highway Statistics Series. To determine the states with the worst roads, researchers at Construction Coverage calculated the percentage of major roadways in poor condition using the latest data available. In the event of a tie, the state with the lower share of major roadways in good condition was ranked higher. Major roadways are defined to include interstates, other freeways and expressways, other principal arterials, and minor arterials. The International Roughness Index (IRI)—a standardized mathematical metric used to quantify the smoothness and ride quality of road pavements—was used to classify poor, fair, and good conditions of roadways by the following criteria:

  • Poor: IRI greater than 170 inches/mile
  • Fair: IRI between 95 and 170 inches/mile
  • Good: IRI less than 95 inches/mile

For complete results, see U.S. States With the Worst Roads on Construction Coverage.

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U.S. States With the Worst Roads
U.S. States With the Worst Roads
The U.S. has dramatically increased infrastructure spending since the bipartisan infrastructure law passed in 2021—but many Americans are still driving on deteriorating roads. A new analysis from Construction Coverage finds that highway and street construction spending surged roughly 25% in recent years, reaching nearly $150 billion annually—yet more than 1 in 8 major U.S. roads are still classified as being in poor condition nationwide. The report ranks every state based on the share of major roads in poor condition using the latest federal roadway data and reveals a stark regional divide in infrastructure quality. 1 min