Road Work Ahead: Holding Government Accountable for Fixing America’s Crumbling Roads and Bridges

This paper argues the case for maintaining and repairing the roads and bridges in the United States, in stead of continuing to invest in new construction. The table of content lists the following headings: America’s Roads and Bridges Are in Disrepair; Thousands of Miles of America’s Roads Are Riddled with Potholes and Crumbling Asphalt; Too Many of America’s Bridges Are Structurally Deficient; Poorly Maintained Roadways Cause Harm; States Spend Billions on Expanded Roadway Capacity; Why Are America’s Roads and Bridges in Such Poor Shape?; Political Pressure Tilts the Playing Field Toward Construction of New Highways; Federal Policies Fail to Counter Inherent Biases Against Maintenance; State Policies Can Further Steer Spending Away from Adequate Maintenance; Fix It First - A 21st Century Vision for America’s Transportation Infrastructure; and Policy Recommendations.