The challenges facing America’s roadway infrastructure are serious. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ puts on a regular “report card” assessing the state of America’s infrastructure, assigning letter grades based on the physical condition and needed investments for improvement. Our nation as a whole got a D+ on its 2017 report card and the states that affect us the most are facing many roadway infrastructure challenges of their own.
Status of the Roadway Infrastructure of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio
Infrastructure challenges face nearly all states in our great nation (hence the grade of D+), but the states in our general area are facing some serious ones that can affect the bottom line of your trucking business. So, let’s drill down on how things look for these five important states.
Illinois – Modest progress in the state of Illinois’ roadway infrastructure is encouraging, but there is still much work be done. Illinois has a significant backlog of overdue maintenance that if not addressed could result wiping out recent gains.
Indiana – Driving on roads in need of repair in Indiana costs each driver $272 per year. Of the 96,571 miles of public roads in the state of Indiana, 8% are assessed to be in poor condition.
Kentucky – Driving on roads in need of repair in Kentucky costs each driver $331 per year, and 8.1% of bridges are rated structurally deficient.
Michigan – Driving on roads in need of repair in Michigan costs each driver $540 per year, and 11.1% of bridges are rated structurally deficient.
Ohio – Driving on roads in need of repair in Ohio costs each driver $475 per year, and 6.9% of bridges are rated structurally deficient.
Overall, our roads are mediocre at best, and our bridges are not in good shape. Subpar infrastructure slows down the trucking industry. Costs incurred by wasted time on congested roads impact operational efficiencies and fuel expenses. It has been estimated that businesses pay $27 billion a year in extra freight transportation costs, increasing shipping delays and raising prices on everyday products due to roadway infrastructure issues.
With more political uncertainty in our country than possibly ever before, it’s hard to predict what comes next for America’s infrastructure. Time will tell whether emphasis is placed on this area vital to the trucking industry.
Count on Wiers Fleet Partners to provide your timely updates on these and other relevant topics to help you stay in-the-know. And, when you’re in need of a proactive partner to assist you with sales, service or leasing, be sure to explore a lasting relationship with the experts at Wiers. We’ve got 100 years of experience to put to work for you!
