Inside INdiana Business is reporting that Indiana’s highway system needs a lot of work, according to a new study. The Hoosier state ranks 33rd in the nation in condition and overall cost-effectiveness in the Annual Highway Report, published by the California-based Reason Foundation. Indiana actually improved one position from last year’s report. The report utilizes data submitted by states to the federal government, and measures the condition and cost-effectiveness of state-owned roads in 13 different categories.
Indiana ranks 14th in overall fatality rate and 21st in structurally deficient bridges, 27th in traffic congestion and 43rd in both urban and rural Interstate pavement condition, and ranked 30th when it comes to total spending per mile.
“To improve in the rankings, Indiana needs to improve its urban and rural Interstate pavement condition. Indiana is in the bottom 10 of all states for its urban and rural Interstate pavement conditions. Compared to nearby states, the report finds Indiana’s overall highway performance is worse than Kentucky (ranks 5th), Illinois (ranks 28th) and Ohio (ranks 18th),” said Baruch Feigenbaum, lead author of the report and assistant director of transportation at Reason Foundation.
The number of state-controlled highway mileage gives the state the country’s 23rd largest highway system. North Dakota ranks first in overall performance and cost-effectiveness for the second consecutive year. Virginia and Missouri are second and third respectively. Maine and Kentucky round out the top five. Highway systems in New Jersey were ranked 50th, preceded by Alaska, Rhode Island, Hawaii and Massachusetts as the bottom five in overall performance and cost-effectiveness.
Click here for the full annual report.