PA Roads Study: See How Many Are In Poor Condition

PENNSYLVANIA — More than 25 percent of the state's local roads and almost 15 percent of its bridges are in subpar condition, a new report asserts.

The report released by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, says the state's local roads and bridges will need increased investment to enhance safety and promote economic vitality. The report contains information for each of the state's 67 counties.

"A lack of transportation funding, increasing construction costs and evolving transportation demands are projected to lead to declining conditions on local roads and may jeopardize future economic competitiveness," the study states. "Pennsylvania’s local roads and bridges are critical to mobility in Pennsylvania, carrying 44 percent of vehicle travel in the state and accounting for 94 percent of roadway mileage and 75 percent of the state’s bridges."

According to the TRIP report, 26 percent of Pennsylvania’s more than 33,000 miles of local roads are in poor condition, 23 percent are in fair condition, 30 percent are in good condition and the remaining 22 percent are in excellent condition.

The future outlook for state roads is grim, the study contends.

"Over the next decade, state-owned pavement conditions will decline on all roads, and state-owned bridge conditions will decline, especially local bridges," the report states.

Conditions on these roadways and bridges are projected to deteriorate in the future, as PennDOT will be forced to allocate available financial resources to maintaining National Highway System routes to federally mandated standards, leaving fewer resources available for the local state-owned highways."