Illinois home to 15th largest share of roads in poor conditions across
country
[May 17, 2025]
By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Construction Coverage Head of Engineering and Data
Analytics Officer Michael Stromberg has some unsolicited advice for
Illinois lawmakers looking at the state’s poor ranking in the latest
2025 U.S. States with Best and Worst Roads study.
Based on data collected on behalf of Construction Coverage, researchers
pegged Illinois as home to the 15th largest share of roads in poor
condition in the country with the share of major roadways falling in
that category at 16.4% while another 32.6% were rated as just being in
fair condition.
“Illinois weather and climate play a large role,” Stromberg told The
Center Square.
Stromberg added the problem runs much deeper though.
“I think we should focus on spending since plenty of nearby states have
similarly harsh winters,” he said. “What I will say is a huge factor is
government spending or inefficient government spending. Illinois is
outspending its neighboring Midwest states yet has a larger share of
major railways in poor condition. I would point to bureaucracy and
politics as the likely main impediment to road quality.”
Across much of the country, road quality is seen as improving, but at a
slow pace with the share of roads deemed in good condition climbing by
10% since 2000 to reach 55.2% overall in 2023. At the same time, 13% of
major roads are now viewed as in poor condition with most of the most
recent improvements tied to funding allocated via the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by former President Joe Biden in
2021.
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BlueRoomStream
In Illinois, Stromberg argues lawmakers would also be wise to look
across state lines and at several neighboring states to get a view of
how smooth things could be running.
“Minnesota's performance-based budgeting system has been in place for
decades and it's been lauded for its efficiency,” he said. “Indiana's
roads rank highly. They use laser technology for road quality
characterization and their projects are also prioritized based on
throughput, need and timing. There are well-known standards and
procedures in place, there just needs to be the willingness to get the
job done.”
Stromberg said Illinois motorists may have reason to feel optimistic
that their ride may be becoming a bit smoother before long.
“My understanding is Illinois has started implementing a similar process
that's performance-based budgeting similar to Minnesota's system,” he
said. “From my understanding that's being put in place and I've also
read that Illinois is starting to use the latest technology for road
quality characterizations similar to what Indiana is doing. Having the
system in place and the technology in place is a starting point and it's
an investment.”
With the number of daily vehicle-miles traveled per capita across
Illinois at 22.5, researchers pegged the share of major roadways in good
condition at 51%. |
