America's roads are awful!!

US interstates 9 to 12" thick, Autobahn, 27" thick, Autobahn 7000 miles, US interstate system 46000 miles.

Roads up north are typically worse due to the freeze-thaw cycles. It just destroys them. Down south, you don’t have that so the roads last longer. Also, states like PA Suffer from mine subsidence in many areas which can cause road problems in some areas. And the northeast has higher population density and therefore more lane miles. So the larger highway systems require more maintenance.

Someone mentioned the high gas tax in PA. A very large portion of the gas tax is sucked up to fund the PA State Police pension fund, rather than improving roads and bridges. And while it is true, PA has high gas tax, we also do not have personal property tax on vehicles like other states such as WV. So that makes it hard to compare apples to apples when looking at state vs state taxes.

I’ve been all around. The Midwest and east coast are awful. I hope they take my $200 in tolls from my trip and put it towards the highways!

If you want to drive on really nice smooth roads, roads like glass, I suggest the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Roads are fantastic. You see, here in Michigan, road maintenance is based on a Lane Mile funding ratio and the UP has the most lane miles so they get the most road funding from the State.

Problem is getting there. All the roads in the lower suck big time. Once you cross the bridge however, it's fantastic.

So, if you can make it without busting your suspension or your bladder, you will have it made.

dodge guy wrote:
I’ve been all around. The Midwest and east coast are awful. I hope they take my $200 in tolls from my trip and put it towards the highways!

Maybe 10 bucks of that might make it. The rest will be absorbed by graft and corruption.

Come to louisiana our roads are smooth as silk :B

Ductape wrote:
Compared to what other nations?

How many would be willing to pay higher fuel taxes?

What was it last year, WA and OR raised their gas taxes by 20 cents per gallon figuring people wouldn't notice while the price of crude was low. They had no intention of putting it into the roads.

The worst I've seen are CA's cement roads, down on Hwy 10 by Lafayette and the toll roads and bridges around Chicago where the tolls aren't going into the roads either.

I don't mind the fuel tax when it's used for the roads, then I get something for my money. It's when they use it to subsidize something else that they know the tax payers wouldn't stand for that gets me riled up.

Bill

Ductape wrote:
Compared to what other nations?

How many would be willing to pay higher fuel taxes?

I'd rather see our money spent wisely, where it should be.

I drive secondary/back roads....55-60 mph and enjoy the drive.

Trackrig wrote:

Ductape wrote:
Compared to what other nations?

How many would be willing to pay higher fuel taxes?

What was it last year, WA and OR raised their gas taxes by 20 cents per gallon figuring people wouldn't notice while the price of crude was low. They had no intention of putting it into the roads.

The worst I've seen are CA's cement roads, down on Hwy 10 by Lafayette and the toll roads and bridges around Chicago where the tolls aren't going into the roads either.

I don't mind the fuel tax when it's used for the roads, then I get something for my money. It's when they use it to subsidize something else that they know the tax payers wouldn't stand for that gets me riled up.

Bill

Don't Ya just love it when all our road money gets poured down a hole in Seattle.