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A BUMPY RIDE
With pothole season upon us, here's a look at road conditions across the US
HANNAH HUDNALL | USA Today
INFRASTRUCTURE
Pothole season is in full swing, which means drivers should travel extra cautiously this spring until potholes can be filled by road crews.
Online lending platform LendingTree analyzed data from the Federal Highway Administration's Highway Statistics Series to evaluate the conditions of roads and bridges across the U.S.
Here's what it found:
Which states have the worst roads?
LendingTree found that 1 in 11 miles of U.S. roadways are in poor condition, or 8.9% of those evaluated.
The following states had the highest share of road miles in poor condition in 2024:
Where did road conditions worsen the most?
Roads improved slightly across the U.S. between 2019 and 2024, with the nationwide share of roads in poor condition shifting from 9.2% to 8.9%.
These states had the biggest change:
Which states have the worst bridge conditions?
The report found that 4.9% of bridge area across the U.S. is in poor condition, with the following states having the highest share of damaged bridges in 2025:
Where did bridge conditions worsen the most?
Though bridge conditions improved nationally between 2020 and 2025, Utah saw the starkest level of degradation, with an astounding increase of 200%, followed by these states:
Avoiding pothole damage
The American Automobile Association recommends the following tips for avoiding pothole damage to your car:
â– Properly inflate tires to the manufacturer's recommended level.
â– Make sure your tires aren't overly or unevenly worn.
â– Keep ample distance between your car and the car in front of you.
â– Avoid driving through standing water, as puddles can disguise deep pothole.
â– Scan the road for potholes, especially at night and during rainstorms.
â– If you must drive over a pothole, be sure to drive slowly and avoid braking abruptly.
â– Pay attention to any new noises or vibrations after you've hit a pothole, and take your car to a trusted mechanic if you detect anything unusual.
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