Only 22 percent of Pennsylvania’s more than 33,000 miles of local roads are rated in excellent condition, according to a recent report by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.,-based national transportation research nonprofit organization. The remaining roads were rated in good condition, 30 percent; poor condition, 26 percent; and fair condition, 23 percent.
“Pennsylvania’s local roads and bridges are the backbone of the state’s transportation network and will require adequate, sustained investment and improvements in order to continue providing mobility and economic opportunity for Pennsylvania’s residents and businesses,” Dave Kearby, TRIP executive director, said.
The report includes data from statewide and every Pennsylvania county, and defines local roads as those not part of the state’s National Highway System. Pavement condition data is from local roadways the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation maintains while bridge condition and traffic fatality data includes state- and locally-maintained roads and bridges.
Of the state’s 24,877 local bridges, 52 percent are rated in fair condition, 35 percent in good condition and 14 in poor/structurally deficient condition. No bridges were rated excellent.
Increasing construction costs, changing transportation demands and a lack of transportation funding have contributed to declining conditions on local roads.
Annual vehicle miles traveled was more than 103 billion in 2024.