New Jersey’s road conditions
As of 2008, a full 79% of New Jersey’s state-owned major roads had fallen out of good condition, meaning they will now be increasingly expensive to repair and maintain. Only 19% of New Jersey’s roads were in good condition, the state in which repairs are least expensive.
New Jersey’s highway spending priorities
Between 2004 and 2008, New Jersey spent 35% of its highway capital expenditures on road expansion – $612 million each year on average – and 24% on repair and maintenance of existing roads – $421 million. That 35% of spending on expansion added 39 lane-miles to New Jersey’s road network.
New Jersey would need to spend a minimum of $215 million annually for the next twenty years to get the current backlog of poor-condition major roads into a state of good repair and maintain all state-owned roads in good condition. The state should be commended for aggressively addressing past underinvestment in road maintenance by prioritizing repair spending in recent years. Shifting more funds toward maintaining and repairing existing roads moving forward will be crucial to addressing New Jersey’s massive repair needs.
New Jersey’s road condition goals
New Jersey uses the Surface Distress Index and International Roughness Index to measure pavement condition and aims to maintain at least 80% of the state-owned highway system in “acceptable” condition between 2009 and 2019.
For more information about New Jersey’s pavement management program, including the source and methodology for the above information, see the appendices of Repair Priorities.
Read more about New Jersey’s transportation spending
Smart Transportation New Jersey: Save Money and Growth the Economy
This Smart Growth America report provides more extensive analysis of New Jersey’s transportation spending priorities and recommendations for how state leaders can make the most of New Jersey’s transportation funds.
