37% of North Carolina roads are in ‘poor’ condition, report says

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – A newly released report from a Washington D.C.-based non-profit offers some troubling data about North Carolina’s roads.

According to the TRIP report, 37% of the state’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. In the Raleigh-Durham area, that percentage is slightly higher at 39%.

Despite these numbers, some people say the roads aren’t bad. “I think it’s one of the most fluid traveled systems in the area,” Reginald Lee said. “I have traveled Florida to New York. Our roads, in comparison, are pretty well off.”

The report also states that 7% of the state’s bridges are rated in poor or structurally deficient condition. That percentage sits at 5% in Raleigh-Durham, with 50% in fair condition.

Statewide, traffic fatalities rose 20% percent from 2019 to 2023, according to the report. It also acknowledges efforts to increase N.C. Department of Transportation funding with the passage of House Bill 103 in 2022, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into federal law in 2021.

“In terms of the impact of this additional funding, we’ve seen a significant increase in inflation and highway construction costs, and unfortunately this has diminished to some extent the benefits of this additional funding or have limited in terms of the additional investment,” said Rocky Moretti, the director of policy and research at TRIP during a Zoom presentation of the data on Wednesday morning. “Over 2022 and 2023, over that two-year period, there was a 43% increase in highway construction costs.”

TRIP said the non-profit is sponsored by insurance companies, equipment manufacturers, distributors, labor unions, as well as other businesses and organizations.

North Carolinian residents are very outspoken about roadways. “They spend more money on making new roads instead of repairing the ones we got,” Paul Johnson said.

NCDOT released the following statement in response to the report:

“While NCDOT does not typically comment on reports prepared outside of the department, we appreciate any discussions on ways to fund the future of transportation in North Carolina and are encouraging the public to stay involved. We have a new initiative in partnership with the NC Chamber and other public-private partners to find sustainable funding solutions for declining transportation revenues. We’ve launched a website, advancenctransportation.com , to better inform the public about transportation funding. From the website, people may take a short survey to share their opinions about the future of funding for transportation. The website also explains the looming issue of less-reliable transportation revenue and features an interactive online calculator that lets people explore how gas tax costs compare with other potential options. NCDOT will continue to work with our partners to deliver safe and reliable transportation options for all who travel in our state.”

Some drivers want to see improvements beyond the roads. “I think we can improve the public transportation system, period,” Lee said. “Everything else is fine. I have lived in major cities and you could catch a bus and go anywhere at any given time. Here, it shuts down and is limited in how far it goes.”

You can read the full report here .

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