Arizona highways rank No. 23 in performance and cost-effectiveness

PHOENIX — Arizona improved to No. 23 in the nation in a ranking on highway performance and cost-effectiveness, a six-spot improvement from 2019.

The Reason Foundation published the rankings in their 25th annual highway report, which examines the nation’s highways in multiple categories.

Last year, Arizona finished No. 29.

“To improve in the rankings, Arizona needs to reduce its fatality rate. Arizona is in the bottom six of all states in each of the fatality rankings,” lead author Baruch Feigenbaum said in the report.

“Compared to neighboring states, the report finds Arizona’s overall highway performance is better than California (ranks 42nd), but worse than New Mexico (ranks 16th) and Utah (ranks 17th).”

Arizona had strong rankings in structurally deficient bridges, maintenance disbursements per mile, urban interstate pavement condition and urban arterial pavement condition.

The state ranked top 10 in all four categories, including a top five ranking in structurally deficient bridges and maintenance disbursements per mile.

Arizona was listed as one of three states along with Texas and Nevada to report less than 2% of bridges to be structurally deficient.

The report states that the total mileage of Arizona’s state-controlled highways ranks No. 26 in the country.

North Dakota was the top ranked state in the nation while New Jersey finished last.

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