DESERT SUN
California has been ranked the fifth worst state for bad roads.
More than a third of California’s roads are “unacceptable,” according to a new study by Junk Car Medics, a cash for cars service. Rhode Island topped the list, followed by New Jersey, Hawaii, and Connecticut as Nos. 2, 3, and 4, respectively.
Junk Car Medics analyzed data on road conditions from the Bureau of Traffic Statistics from 2012 to 2022 and examined the percentages for unacceptable roads under the International Roughness Index.
California has 19,736 miles of roads, of which 7,664 miles or 38.84% are unacceptable, Junk Car Medics reported.
By contrast, nearly half of Rhode Island’s 1,182 miles of road were unacceptable, followed by 45.69% of New Jersey’s 3,868 miles, 40.72% of Hawaii’s 1,546 miles, and 40.38% of Connecticut’s 6,343 miles.
The rest of the worst for bad roads
According to the study, the rest of the 10 worst states are:
- No. 6. Washington with 29.55% of its 19,272 miles in bad shape.
- No. 7. New Mexico with 28.96% of its 12,021 miles.
- No. 8. Massachusetts with 28.68% of its 5,328 miles.
- No. 9. Mississippi with 27.86% of its 21,783 miles.
- No. 10. Pennsylvania with 27.65% of its 26,506 miles.
California has highest number of bad miles in top 10
Besides ranking No. 5 in terms of percentage, California had the highest number of unacceptable miles of bad roads among the top 10. That number was 7,664 miles.
Pennsylvania had the second-highest number in that group with 7,329 miles.
Roads’ impact on economy and safety
The high percentages of roads in bad shape mean “serious implications not only for day-to-day travel but also for broader economic and safety factors,” said Todd Bialaszewski of Junk Car Medics.
“Addressing this issue will require a comprehensive approach, prioritizing sustained investment in infrastructure improvements, preventive maintenance, and modern repair techniques,” he said.
Greater collaboration among state governments, local agencies, and the private sector could mean progress on fixing roads, Bialaszewski said.
