One in Four Kentucky Roads Rated Poor, Mediocre: TRIP

TRIP’s report on Kentucky transportation found that more than 25 percent of that state’s major locally and state-maintained roads are in poor or mediocre condition. It also found that 7 percent of locally and state-maintained bridges (20 feet or more in length) are rated poor/structurally deficient. The TRIP report, “Kentucky Transportation by the Numbers: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe, Smooth and Efficient Mobility,” includes statewide and regional pavement and bridge conditions, congestion data, highway safety data, and cost breakdowns for the Bowling Green, Lexington, Louisville, Northern Kentucky, and Owensboro urban areas.

According to TRIP, roads and bridges that are deteriorated, congested, or lack some desirable safety features cost Kentucky motorists a total of $4.7 billion statewide annually due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes, and congestion-related delays.

Seven percent of roads are in poor condition and another 21 percent are in mediocre condition, the report says.

“It’s easy to see from this report why Kentucky needs further investment in our roads and bridges across the Commonwealth,” said John Cox, director of public affairs at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “One of the Kentucky Chamber’s top priorities for the past five years has been to secure additional infrastructure investments at the state level, because better roads and bridges lead to more investment and better opportunities in the state. We will continue to advocate for better infrastructure, as we cannot afford to fall further behind our neighboring states.”

Seven percent of Kentucky’s bridges are rated in poor/structurally deficient condition. Bridges that are rated poor/structurally deficient have significant deterioration of the bridge deck, supports or other major components. Sixty-five percent of the state’s bridges are rated in fair condition and the remaining 28 percent are in good condition.

“Adequate transportation funding is critical for Kentucky’s counties,” said Jim Henderson, executive director and CEO of the Kentucky Association of Counties. “Counties maintain over 50 percent of the public road miles and own a third of the bridges across the Commonwealth. Never has it been more important to invest in our transportation infrastructure.”

Watch the press conference below.

Source: TRIP