September 13, 2024

By Lane Kimble

A new report shows Wisconsin’s state highway system is falling behind the nation in terms of quality.

Wisconsin dropped to 40th in the country for highways the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rates as being in “fair” or “good” condition, Wisconsin Watch’s article reports.  That amounts to just shy of 75% of the state’s highways and interstates as being acceptable, FHWA data from 2022 shows.

It’s worth noting, Wisconsin ranked higher (21st) in 2018, however FHWA that year only compared Wisconsin’s approximately 11,800 center-lane miles to compile that information, versus 28,284 miles in 2022.

This would seem to suggest FHWA looked at lane miles instead of center-line miles for its latest compilation.

Regardless, the report shows the state lags behind neighbors Minnesota (13th) and Illinois (33rd) in terms of highway quality and more investments in the system may improve Wisconsin’s rating.

Wisconsin has about 101,000 miles of local roads and county highways, which are not part of this report.