Study gives Arizona highway conditions average ranking

PHOENIX — A new study said Arizona highways rank in the middle of the pack nationwide.

The Reason Foundation published its annual Highway Report last week, ranking Arizona’s highway conditions 24th in the country.

The study takes into account 11 performance measures, including pavement condition, traffic congestion, deficient bridges, traffic fatality rates and spending per-mile, as well as other factors.

Arizona scored highest in rural arterial lane-width (tied for first) and percentage of deficient bridges (third) among the included categories.

Some of the state’s lowest rankings came in spending categories, placing 40th in total disbursements per mile and 44th in administrative disbursements per mile. Arizona also had one of the countries worst fatality rates, ranking 41st nationally.

Reason Foundation bases its annual report on spending and performance data submitted by state highway agencies to the federal government. Arizona possesses the 38th-largest state controlled highway system in the United States, according to the report.

The foundation’s complete report can be found here, along with a full summary for each state.