Arkansas drivers spending $2 billion annually due to deficient roads

Deficient roads and bridges in Arkansas cost local drivers a total of $2 billion statewide annually due to higher vehicle operating costs, traffic crashes and congestion-related delays, according to the latest TRIP report.

The report, “Arkansas Transportation by the Numbers: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” discovered that throughout Arkansas, nearly a third of major locally and state-maintained urban roads and highways and nearly a quarter of major rural roads and highways are in poor condition. Nearly a quarter of Arkansas’ bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.

The state’s major urban roads are becoming increasingly congested, with drivers wasting significant amounts of time and fuel each year. And, Arkansas’ traffic fatality rate is the fifth highest nationally and the state’s rural non-interstate traffic fatality rate is more than three times the fatality rate on all other roads in the state.

The TRIP report rated 32 percent of major locally and state-maintained urban roads in Arkansas in poor condition and 42 percent are rated in mediocre condition or fair condition. Only the remaining 26 percent are rated good.  The report also discovered that 23 percent of major locally and state-maintained rural roads are rated in poor condition, 46 percent are rated in mediocre condition or fair condition and the remaining 31 percent are rated good.

A total of 23 percent of Arkansas’ bridges show significant deterioration or do not meet modern design standards. Seven percent of Arkansas’ bridges are structurally deficient, with significant deterioration to the bridge deck, supports or other major components. An additional 16 percent of the state’s bridges are functionally obsolete, which means they no longer meet modern design standards, often because of narrow lanes, inadequate clearances or poor alignment.

“Safe and well-maintained highways are critical to Arkansas’ economic development,” Commissioner Robert Moore, of the Arkansas Highway Commission said in a statement. “Poor roads and highways cost Arkansans money and, in some cases, lives. While, on the other hand, adequate funding to improve Arkansas highways creates private-sector jobs, improves our business climate, attracts new business and industry, and keep motorists safe.”