DENVER—More than half of the roads maintained by the state of Colorado are in poor shape, according to a new report.
The Colorado Department of Transportation’s assessment released Wednesday found that 52 percent of the 9,144 miles of highway the agency maintains are in bad condition. It’s the first time in the 10 years the assessment has been done that more than half the roads got a poor rating.
The analysis also found that if the state spends about $260 million annually on roads as forecast over the next 20 years, 78 percent of the highways will be in poor condition by 2030.
“This is an area where the public will quickly see the consequences—the deterioration of the roads,” said Doug Aden of Grand Junction, a member of the state transportation commission.
Transportation officials said there’s been a steady deterioration the past five years as the state budget has been squeezed.
In 2005, 35 percent of state-maintained highways were rated in poor condition. Last year, the department said 50 percent of the highways were in poor shape.
The roads would have been in worse condition without the federal stimulus money the transportation department has received over the past year, officials said.
The transportation commission’s goal is for 60 percent of the highways to be in good or fair condition. To reach that, the department would need $430 million more a year, according to the agency’s analysis.
Lawmakers last year raised vehicle registration fees to help pay for highway and bridge repairs. The higher fees have been criticized and a measure on the November ballot would cut taxes and fees on vehicles.
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Information from: The Denver Post,
