Worst Roads in the Country by State

[ethanhopkin14]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/autos-compact/these-are-the-us-states-with-the-worst-roads/ss-AAcZ1FZ?ocid=DELLDHP#image=12


I found this article on MSN today.  Let the debate begin!!

[sipes23]

Illinois in the 1 spot is the correct answer.

[SD Mapman]

How on earth isn't New Mexico up there? Their roads are crap! (When you cross the border on I-25, the state line is a huge bump and then the pavement sucks)

[Zeffy]

I was shocked that New Jersey was only 9th worst. I thought for sure we'd be in the top three.

[iBallasticwolf2]

Suprised Ohio isn't on it. Not surprised Kentucky isn't on it because Kentucky maintains their highways pretty damn well.

[cpzilliacus]

Umm, Pennsylvania anyone?

[Avalanchez71]

I agree with IL as the number one slot.  I can recall visiting IL as a young child and noticing the roads were terrible.  Nothing much changed over the years.  TN does a good job on road maintenance.  Not to mention our roads are maintained without debt unlike IL.

[thenetwork]

Kind of surprised that neither Ohio nor Michigan made the top 10 states list.  Earlier this week, another survey came out ranking the 10 worst large- and medium-sized cities: 

http://www.tripnet.org/docs/Urban_Roads_National_TRIP_Release_07-23-15.php

Northeast Ohio (Cleveland/Akron) ranked way up there as well as Southeast Michigan (Detroit/Flint).  Those two regions alone should have carried their respective states into the Top 10.

[Alex4897]

Umm, Pennsylvania anyone?

I second.

[The High Plains Traveler]

How on earth isn't New Mexico up there? Their roads are crap! (When you cross the border on I-25, the state line is a huge bump and then the pavement sucks)

Sure you weren't northbound when you made that observation? Colorado did rank no. 5 on the previously cited MSNBC article, which is consistent with my experience.

[ekt8750]

Umm, Pennsylvania anyone?

I second.

I third but I don't think our freeways are too bad as far as driving surfaces are concerned. Surface highways and bridges are a different story.

[StogieGuy7]

Umm, Pennsylvania anyone?

Most definitely.  Both PA and NJ are worse than IL.  I live here and would say that IL is in the top 10 for "worst" roads, but shouldn't be first - because it simply isn't. 

[txstateends]

I wonder if there is an online survey of worst roads among cities.  That one could require some popcorn....

[iBallasticwolf2]

Umm, Pennsylvania anyone?

I second.

I third but I don't think our freeways are too bad as far as driving surfaces are concerned. Surface highways and bridges are a different story.

I just happened to drive some of US 22 and US 119 in Greensburg and found them to be good drives. I found I-70 between WV and I-79 to be the worst part of going to Pittsburgh from NKY in terms of pavement conditions besides stop and go on I-376 between I-79 and US 19 because of a lane closure.

[Thing 342]

The title of this thread is a bit misleading; I was under the impression that it would be a discussion about the worst stretch of road in each state. (I-95 in VA north of Fredericksburg gets my vote, FWIW)

[SD Mapman]

How on earth isn't New Mexico up there? Their roads are crap! (When you cross the border on I-25, the state line is a huge bump and then the pavement sucks)

Sure you weren't northbound when you made that observation? Colorado did rank no. 5 on the previously cited MSNBC article, which is consistent with my experience.

No, it was southbound. Colorado was bad, but New Mexico was worse. Much worse.

[TEG24601]

I will admit, the roads in Washington and Oregon are is disrepair, but it is minor (with the exception of I-84 through the gorge, which actually has inch or more deep ruts) when compared to Michigan, which is so bad that people are destroying their wheels when changing lanes.  I've driven quite a lot, and Michigan was by far the worst, even worse than Illinois.

[cl94]

Agree with Pennsylvania. There seems to be a lot of resurfacing in north-central PA, but a lot of stuff is still crap. Ohio, while not great, has gotten a lot better recently, at least on highways maintained by ODOT. Massachusetts is also pretty bad.

[DaBigE]

I know Wisconsin's roads aren't the best, but I didn't think we were third worst.   I wonder if they didn't leave the Milwaukee Metro area.   IIRC, there were some news stories a few years back on how the city of Milwaukee was collectively over a hundred years behind in street maintenance.

I wonder if there is an online survey of worst roads among cities.  That one could require some popcorn....

This article might be close to what you're looking for: Report finds 46% of area roads in poor condition

[thenetwork]

To defend Colorado, I have to say that at least on the Western Slope, the Interstate system is in relatively good shape.  I-70 is only "bad" near Parachute.  While it is a little teeth-jarring in spots between Vail and Idaho Springs, some of that can be attributed to Tire Chains, studded tires and freeze & thaw cycles over the extended winter season that quickly dig into newly-paved roads and shortening their lifespan.

Other areas, especially mountain roads, fall victim to shifting/eroding land which can "bend" the roads a bit.

Overall, I have to say that roads in Colorado are better than average as we prefer using sand, cinders and/or mag chloride in the winter which isn't as bad on the roads as say rock salt.  Most of the time when I come across a signed ROAD DAMAGE'd section of roadway, the "damage" is about equal to the condition of some of the average roads in the Midwest (OH/MI).

[cpzilliacus]

Umm, Pennsylvania anyone?

I second.

I third but I don't think our freeways are too bad as far as driving surfaces are concerned. Surface highways and bridges are a different story.

Ever driven the Pennsylvania section of I-83?

I-70 between Washington, Pennsylvania and New Stanton?

Then there's the matter of much of the Pennsylvania Turnpike - a worn and dated road with numerous missing connections to other freeways, including, but not limited to, Breezewood.

[hm insulators]

Definitely agree with California being on the list!

[cl94]

After spending a couple of days in Illinois, I completely agree with them taking the top spot. Also think Indiana should be up there- I-70 and I-74 outside of Indianapolis are miserable.

[US 41]

After spending a couple of days in Illinois, I completely agree with them taking the top spot. Also think Indiana should be up there- I-70 and I-74 outside of Indianapolis are miserable.

I live in Terre Haute and I can say from experience that Illinois highways are typically in way better shape than Indiana highways. You can tell the difference as soon as you cross the border. The county roads in Indiana are in disrepair. They will never be smooth. The only counties that have nice roads are the ones that a good sized city is located in.

[iBallasticwolf2]

I-74 outside of Indianapolis is miserable.

Really? I've been on the section of I-74 between Indianapolis and Cincinnati and the Indiana part seems to be in good condition. From several GSV shots I-74 west of Indianapolis to Illinois also seems to be in acceptable condition.