Why are roads in the U.S. so bad?

[Goldinboy17]

In my area eastern PA, all the local roads, from what are almost single lane rural back roads, to state routes, and in many cases even interstates are really terrible. I call it "going offroading on blacktop" just because there are so many bumps, potholes, and uneven surfaces. The guy at the local shop where I buy my tires even says that the condition of our roads really reduces the lifespan of a tire.

We pay so much in taxes at the local, state and federal level, on top of gasoline taxes that youd think we would be able to build roads that wont tear out the suspension on your car.

Another thing I cant figure out is why a local township recently tore up a perfectly good, even, flat road that was just repaved last year, and than repaved it again this year. I travel that stretch of road every day, and never noticed anything amiss. I can only help but think that they had extra money in their budget that they had to get rid of this year and they got rid of it by tearing up and repaving a perfectly good road.

You'd love our roads. San Francisco Bay Are area were voted worst in the country. At the same time, having eight line highways in some parts are hard to maintain.

 

[YS2003]

When I was a NY/NJ resident several years ago, I did not even think about getting a nicer car (meaning over +USD 30,000) with my own money. My car would be pitted with so many rock chips and scratched in parking lots. My company car took beating like there is no tomorrow.

Now, I am out of those places, I am very comfortable owning 2 new cars as I have less risk from others and elements now.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

I live in south east PA, but have driven all over Pa, regularly. What I can attest to, is that the roads that are frequently traveled are usually well kept. It's the other roads, such as 28, before you hit 80, where you're in the middle of nowhere and it's not as nice. But than again, it is a windy country road - what did you expect?

Pa has a **** ton of roadways, they all go through the same freeze/thaw cycle, and the middle of the state is pretty much devoid of life (sans Harrisburg). Give credit where credit is due, PennDOT does a pretty descent job of keeping all of the roads in drivable shape, no matter what small hole in the wall town you live in.

*I'm ignoring the N.E. extension, as well as construction areas - the blue route, the 1/2 mile stretch outside my house, etc... There's no reason PennDOT should have multi-year long construction projects going on.