Georgia has the highest rated roads in the U.S. (Atlanta: taxes, cost)

[tikigod311]

State roads are generally good, if not great.

Counties and cities.... not so much. Looking at you Fulton!

[smb90]

I have always wondered why roads in Atlanta are in bad shape compared to those in the suburbs and in rural GA

[vwgto]

Georgia has received recognition for good roads for many years, and in my experience it has been hard to dispute. I wonder about the $'s spent on rural highways based on need/use, but still impressive.

[arjay57]

I wish we could fix the roads in the city of Atlanta. Many of them are in terrible shape.

[therealpattman]

For those who doubt Georgia has good roads travel on I-20 from South Carolina to Georgia its like day and night in the road quality.

[mattee01]

Originally Posted by Galounger

Many conservatives are gonna wanna label me a socialist for saying this (I'm not). But I agree with Acid Snake on this one. I think we all are much better off with government and taxes providing for things like roads than if it were privatized and we were all having to pay tolls to use roads owned by United Roadways Corporation or such.

Somethings are best provided by the lesser evil that is the big government boogie man. This countries founding fathers were wise enough to see that and they were far from socialist.

Well just keep in mind, generally the ones that call public goods (especially transit and social security) socialist, are the ones owning or backing big companies that stand to profit by having things privitized.

[cwkimbro]

I think the reasons Georgia roads are so nice (by measure of physical quality) has more to do with 3 main reasons:

1) Georgia actually is more efficient than other states in a big way. I'm not sure the exact reasons, but we can resurface 1 mile of roadway for less than other states. It probably has something to do with strong competing contractors + easy proximity to resources (less money spent on hauling materials).

2) Compared to the older cities in the northeast and midwest I'd think the avg age of the roads and bridges in GA would be younger.

3) We haven't built enough of them. We've always had public resistance to new freeway projects, either from costs or neighborhood activism. It makes it easier to maintain fewer miles of roadway per capita, but it also means we have lots of bottlenecks and in some places a poor arterial road network. Not to mention we funnel 3 freeways into 1 and that doesn't include spurs further out of town.

Now there are alot of good and bad things to take from this...

[rainlion]

this summer, i drove from chicago to Niagara fall for sightseeing, and passed by those once great industrial cities..and its sooo sad. empty building and factories that you could easily tell once enjoyed glory. their roads are sad to drive on...glad to see GA's good quality highway..

[HeyEng]

Originally Posted by smb90

I have always wondered why roads in Atlanta are in bad shape compared to those in the suburbs and in rural GA

Simple; traffic count.

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by dpatt.marine1

For those who doubt Georgia has good roads travel on I-20 from South Carolina to Georgia its like day and night in the road quality.

I haven't made the drive on I-20 to Birmingham in several years, but I swear you'd a thought your car was going to shake apart the road was so bad and pocked.