Michigan Ranks Tops Among Worst Rural Roads In The Country
DETROIT (WWJ) - Michigan has some of the worst rural road conditions in the county.
A new report by the national transportation group TRIP says - Michigan ranks number 1 in the country in poor rural pavement conditions, and 14th in rural bridge conditions.
"About 37 percent of rural roads are in poor condition," says Carolyn Kelly - TRIP's Associate Director of Research and Communication.
She says the key to improving the condition of the states rural roadways - is funding.
"At the local, state, and federal level there is simply not enough funding available to address the deficiencies on rural roads," says Kelly. "So, it will take a combination of Congress as well as an effort at state and local levels to make sure the needed transportation improvements are funded so that they can move forward."
She talks about how TRIP ranks the states: "Each year states are required to report to the Federal Highway Administration of their roads - so this is data that was reported by the Michigan Department of Transportation -- and then we've been taking data and breaking it down to isolate the rural data."
The report finds that much of the nations rural transportation system is in need of improvements to roads and bridges.
Kelly says the key to improving rural roadways in Michigan is with proper funding at the federal, state and local level.