TRIP survey shows area roads need improvement

Representatives of a non-profit organization that analyzes the condition of state and county roads have been in western Kentucky this week.

Carolyn Kelly is the Associate Director of Research and Communications for TRIP and says about a fifth of state and county roads in District 2—which includes Christian County—need to be repaved.

Six-percent of bridges in the region are deficient and 23-percent of state and county roads are in “poor condition,” according to the survey. She says the state and county simply don’t have the money to address all of the problem areas at this time.

Kelly says the issues show up in Kentucky’s higher-than-average traffic fatality rate.

TRIP doesn’t make specific recommendations to states for how to deal with their transportation issues, but says many states are finding new sources of revenue for their transportation infrastructure budgets.

The TRIP survey shows 21-percent of state and county maintained roads in District 2 are in “fair” condition. The data from the initial survey came from members of the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association, according to Kelly.