We all shake our fists at city hall when we rattle down Howard Ave.— it’s only natural. But it’s hard to grasp the scope of what we’re dealing with when we talk about street infrastructure. Consider that:
- The US has the world’s biggest road network with 6.8 million kilometers (over 4 million miles) of paved roads. That’s 122,848 miles in Florida alone.
- US roads handle a ton of wear and tear. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates upwards of 3.2 trillion miles traveled on roads in 2019.
- Weather takes its toll on roads, too, by expanding and contracting concrete. Rising temperatures could add $19 billion a year to road costs by 2040.
There’s a lot to do. Not only are disrepaired roads dangerous, but they cost motorists $1,000 a year on average. Help out by reporting potholes to 311.