Trends in America’s Road Conditions

The share of major roads in good condition has increased steadily since 2000

Source: Construction Coverage analysis of Federal Highway Administration data | Image Credit: Construction Coverage

Despite increased investment, many U.S. roads remain in poor shape. As defined by the DOT using International Roughness Index (IRI)—a standardized mathematical metric used to quantify the smoothness and ride quality of road pavement—the share of major roadways in poor condition rose slightly from 2000 to 2024, from 11.8% to 13.1%. At the same time, there has been clear progress: the share of roads in good condition increased by nearly 10 percentage points, reaching 55.1% in 2024, with noticeable improvements in the years following the 2021 infrastructure law.

The most significant shift occurred in the middle category. Roads classified as being in fair condition declined from 42.6% in 2000 to 31.9% in 2024. This suggests that many roads have either improved or worsened enough to move into a different category—reflecting a gradual but measurable change in overall road quality.

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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