Worst roads in America?

jmcglone · Mar 29, 2010

Hi, all--

I'm working on a piece for EO about the worst roads in America. The best stuff I was able to find here on the forums is close to ten years old, and as you know, a lot can change in that amount of time. So, here goes: what are the worst roads out there right now? Highways will surely be more traveled by most, but I'm thinking a bit broader than that, if possible.

As usual, I may use a quote or two and will attribute to you when I do.

Thanks so much for the help.

Cheers!

piper1 · Mar 29, 2010

Michigan, they lay all that pretty concrete down and in a few years it turns into a suspension test. Then it seems to get ignored for a few after that. New York is a close second, the east end of I-86 is a disgrace. Quebec is third, I don't know what the french phrase is for "fix the pot holes" and apparently neither do they.

gotta go · Mar 29, 2010

I agree with Piper about Michigan. I thought the purpose of their horrible roadways was to sell more cars. The Indiana tollroad is absolutely disgraceful since being turned over to the private company.

greg334 · Mar 29, 2010

It depends on who you ask.

But as Piper said - MICHIGAN leads the country in poorly built and poorly rebuilt roads.

They have shorten the life cycle of the roads from 16 years to 4 because of the "savings" they can have by filling holes in with recycled blacktop.

BUT if I could have given one example, it is Southfield road between I75 and I94 which was the worst of the worst (two front end alignments and a set of shocks). They are "rebuilding" it which means dumping on a soft top to it which will last 3 years at most.

Jack_Berry · Mar 29, 2010

i would have to say 94 in mi also until we went west this last 3 weeks.

i-40 west of flagstaff. westbound ruts that are tire width wide. maybe that is why 10 is being rebuilt.

ok city 1-40. seemed like the area under rebuilding was like a washboard while i tried to sleep.

Ragman · Mar 29, 2010

Yep, you are all correct. Michigan roads are the worst!

geo · Mar 29, 2010

virginia is not far behind

Steady Eddie · Mar 29, 2010

Any interstate around Cleveland ...but here is the worse- I-86 east from NY line to....Oh, and any "paved" road in MI..non-paved roads are fine. I-86 east, for the first 27 miles heading is like 27 miles of rough RR crossing tracks....flopflopflopflop....

1CHINGON · Mar 30, 2010

If Canada is still part of America, the roads in Manitoba. Those roads make Michigan et al seem rather smooth. 2nd place goes to British Columbia from Seattle to Prince George. 3rd place the road from Port-aux-Basque to Saint John's in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The lower 48 do have some rough roads. Michigan does stand out, but like many other states, the roads are torn in spots. I'd still prefer Michigan to the Canadian trails. And I say that with the utmost respect, I enjoy travelling through Canada.

moose · Mar 30, 2010

The road to the white house ?

OntarioVanMan · Mar 30, 2010

when I started many moons ago...Michigan was MUCH worse then it is now...off and on ramps are a whole different ball game however...

Wi. is much worse...43 between Janesville and Mil...is like 89 in NY a washboard and teeth rattler...43 I see is getting a new skin..Thank God!

Mn is not much better and Ark I40 between W.Memphis and L.R. yuck.

Michigan does not have an exclusive...

Lawrence · Mar 30, 2010

1CHINGON said:
If Canada is still part of America, the roads in Manitoba. Those roads make Michigan et al seem rather smooth. 2nd place goes to British Columbia from Seattle to Prince George. 3rd place the road from Port-aux-Basque to Saint John's in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The lower 48 do have some rough roads. Michigan does stand out, but like many other states, the roads are torn in spots. I'd still prefer Michigan to the Canadian trails. And I say that with the utmost respect, I enjoy travelling through Canada.

I have to agree about Manitoba - the roads in the City of Winnipeg are probably the worst I have ever experienced in a large metropolitan city.

Falligator · Mar 30, 2010

Manitoba is agreed....and it sucks going from Rt. 1 to Rt. 16...it's 480 miles of boring....besides the potholes in Manitoba...but also Michigan and there are some roads right here in Ohio..for instance about 2 years ago I would have given the roughest road honors to St. Rt. 14 from Deerfield, Ohio to Salem Ohio. It was so nasty you couldn't swerve to avoid the potholes. A gravel chip road would have been nicer. and they finally paved it...much nicer!

RETIDEPXE · Mar 30, 2010

Here is one that will broaden the example of a bad road. I know, PC Miler's estimated miles won't pay the added miles from Seattle to Vegas, but...... Put my vote in for NV National Forest Develop Rd 025 east of Mountain City, NV. 20 miles of jeep trail. Quite the experience in a St truck. Cargo van would be a breeze, just make sure it's dry *dirt road*.
One other, Rt 1 in the Yukon Territory enroute to Anchorage near Destruction Bay, Yukon. A washboard in the road jack hammered the steering wheel out of my hands at hwy speeds, scary.
Good place to plug the guys at Donvel.com air ride control systems. Highly recommended, I love mine.

Retidepxe

Dakota · Mar 30, 2010

The roads out here are the worst. My Grandparents lived in the LAX area of California and for the 25 years they lived in the one house I never ever remember them repaving the street they lived on and it was in fine shape.

layoutshooter · Mar 30, 2010

From what I have seen the roads are going down hill all over the U.S. and Canada. They seem to be more interested in spending money raised from fuel taxes on every but the roads. Maybe after a few more bridges collapse they will wake up, not likely though. You can go to any state and find very bad roads, even on the interstates.

Turtle · Mar 30, 2010

Readers Digest recently did a piece on the best and worst roads, and the most dangerous. The stretch between Slidel and Baton Rouge seem topped the list. I concur.

layoutshooter · Mar 30, 2010

Turtle said:
Readers Digest recently did a piece on the best and worst roads, and the most dangerous. The stretch between Slidel and Baton Rouge seem topped the list. I concur.

Without a doubt, that has to be the worst that we have ever driven. Even the Alaska highway in winter is smoother.