Louisiana’s Roads Are Bad, But a New Study Shows 7 States Have It Even Worse

We all know that here in Louisiana, we don't have the best roads. But you may be surprised to know that we don't have the worst roads in America, we're merely toward the bottom.

A new analysis put together by Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Department of Transportation to evaluate the condition of roadways across the country. Somehow, Louisiana ranked only 8th worst according to the ranking.

READ MORE - Louisiana Roads Ranked Among Worst: Here's the Actual Cause

The data shows that highway and street construction spending surged roughly 25% in recent years, reaching nearly $150 billion annually nationwide. Yet, sadly, more than one in eight major U.S. roads are still classified as being in poor condition.

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How Louisiana Stacks Up: Key Data Points from the Analysis

Just how bad is it in the Bayou State? Here are some of the key takeaways regarding the data for Louisiana:

• Where Louisiana ranks in the analysis: Louisiana ranks 8th worst in the country, with 21.3% of its major roads in poor condition. Nationally, 13.1% of major roadways are in poor condition.
• A complete breakdown of major roadway conditions in Louisiana: The latest data shows 42.3% of major roadways in Louisiana are in fair condition, while 36.4% are in good condition.
• Daily vehicle travel in Louisiana: Overall, Louisiana residents log about 32.7 vehicle-miles per day, compared to the national average of about 26.5.

The Seven States with Worse Roads Than Louisiana

Which states could possibly have it worse than we do? Well, here are bottom seven states and the share of major roads in each that are in poor condition:

• Rhode Island - 36.2%
• Massachusetts - 29.3%
• California - 28.4%
• Hawaii - 26.5%
• New York - 24.3%
• Washington - 22.1%
• Maryland - 21.6%

Which States Have the Best Roads in America?

On the opposite end, the top 5 best states for roads include Kansas, Wyoming, Indiana, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

For the complete report, check out the U.S. States With the Worst Roads study.