Associated Press Published

New Report Says W.Va. Rural Roads Among Worst


A new report says West Virginia’s rural roads and bridges are among the worst in the nation.

The report by transportation research group TRIP says 29 percent of major rural roads in West Virginia were in poor condition in 2013. That’s the sixth highest rate in the nation.

West Virginia’s rural traffic fatality rate in 2013 was 2.61 deaths in 2013 for every 100 million vehicle miles of travel, the seventh highest rate in the nation.

The report says 13 percent of West Virginia’s rural bridges were structurally deficient in 2014. That’s the 16th highest rate in the nation.

TRIP says it analyzed the most current data available from sources that include the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.