Find out where Georgia’s highways rank nationally

Georgia’s highway system ranks 14^th in the nation in overall cost-effectiveness and condition, according to a new study.

The Reason Foundation, a Los Angeles-based libertarian think tank, in its Annual Highway Report placed Georgia near the bottom in urban fatality rate but ranked the Peach State No. 1 in condition of urban arterial highways and third in condition of rural arterial roads.

“Georgia spends around the national average on its highway system, but this spending is being effectively used to produce high-quality pavement conditions and well-maintained bridges,” the report stated.

“One of the state’s biggest weaknesses – urban traffic congestion – is being addressed by building a network of variably-priced managed lanes in metro Atlanta that could improve the state’s traffic congestion in future reports.”

In safety and performance categories, Georgia ranked 28^th in overall fatality rate, seventh in structurally deficient bridges, 34^th in traffic congestion, 16^th in urban Interstate pavement condition, and 23^rd in rural Interstate pavement condition.

Georgia spends $66,994 per state-controlled mile of highway, 20^th in total spending per mile and 19^th in capital and bridge costs per mile.

Georgia’s highways compare favorably to the neighboring states of Florida, Alabama and South Carolina but placed behind North Carolina and Tennessee.

Georgia ranked high among the nation’s most populous states, easily besting California, New York, Illinois and Florida, and ranking just ahead of Texas.

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“To improve in the report’s overall rankings, Georgia could reduce its urban fatality rate and urban traffic congestion,” said Baruch Feigenbaum, the report’s lead author and senior managing director of transportation policy at the Reason Foundation.

“The state made progress reducing its administrative costs and improving rural arterial pavement quality leading to a 12-spot improvement in the rankings.”

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