New report reveals Missouri’s rural roadways to be among the nation’s worst

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A new report has revealed that Missouri’s rural roads and bridges are among some of the worst in the nation.

TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, announced on Thursday, Sept. 26, that the nation faces a $198 billion backlog in funds for much-needed repairs and modernization for rural roads.

TRIP’s new report, Rural Connections: Examining the Safety, Connectivity, Condition and Funding Needs of America’s Rural Roads & Bridges, analyzes the safety and condition of rural roads and bridges across the nation. However, the Show-Me State was found to be a top offender.

The new report revealed that 21% of Missouri’s rural roads are in poor condition, the 7th highest rate in the nation. Around 28% of rural roads were found to be in mediocre condition.

Meanwhile, the report showed that 10% of Missouri’s rural bridges are in poor condition or structurally deficient, the 11th highest rate in the nation. These bridges are in such poor condition that a lower weight is posted or closed to traffic altogether.

TRIP indicated that fatalities on rural non-interstate roads in Missouri were significantly higher than on all other roads in 2022. There were nearly 2 fatalities for every 100 million miles of travel. There were 452 fatalities on these roads in 2022.

“This report underscores the need for infrastructure investment in rural America to ensure the roads, bridges, and highways our nation’s equipment manufacturers rely on are efficient, safe, and reliable,” said Todd Stucke, president of Kubota Tractor Corporation and chair of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. “Our freight transportation network—which largely consists of rural communities where our food, fiber, and fuel is produced—remains a vital part of our economy’s supply chain. Allowing it to fall into a state of disrepair will not only cost us more money down the road to modernize, but it will also disrupt our industry’s ability to remain competitive globally.”

TRIP noted that in 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed to provide $454 billion between 2022 and 2026 to be invested in rural roadways. This has resulted in a 31% increase in federal investments from the previous program.

“Rural roads, highways and bridges connect farms to the pantries of every family in America,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Vincent Duvall. “Transportation delays and poorly maintained roads put the safety of rural Americans at risk and undermine farmers’ ability to contribute to a stable food supply. While the IIJA offers an opportunity to improve the reliability and condition of America’s transportation system, we must increase funding in the National Highway Trust Fund to ensure our roads continue to bring agriculture products to market.”

To read the report in full, click HERE.