Rhode Island Road Quality Declined Amid Bridge Repairs
A study found that heavy investment in bridge projects has left many state secondary roads in poor condition.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Car Maintenance
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The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council reported that Rhode Island's focus on bridge repairs between 2020 and 2024 led to the neglect of state road maintenance. This shift resulted in nearly one-fifth of secondary roads falling into poor condition by 2024.
Why it matters
The state prioritized bridge capital projects to prevent failures, a strategy complicated by the unexpected $572.1 million cost of the Washington Bridge failure in December 2023. This imbalance between capital spending and maintenance has created significant infrastructure challenges for the state.
In 2024, 19.4% of Rhode Island secondary roads were in poor condition, while severe pavement cracking reached 23.1%. From 2020 to 2024, the state spent 50% of its capital budget on bridges compared to just 31% on road projects.
The players
Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council
This independent research organization evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of government spending within the state.
Rhode Island Department of Transportation
This state agency is responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of the Rhode Island transportation network.
The details
The report highlights a trend where RIDOT averaged $8.40 on capital projects for every $1 spent on maintenance. Despite successfully reducing structurally deficient bridges through the RhodeWorks program, the state currently faces a $278.9 million funding shortfall in state matching funds.
Timeline
14.8% of state secondary roads were in poor condition in 2015.
Rhode Island focused on tracked capital and maintenance spending from 2020 to 2024.
The Washington Bridge failed in December 2023.
19.4% of secondary roads were reported in poor condition in 2024.
The RIDOT performance audit is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Roadmap
The study evaluates the long-term infrastructure maintenance outcomes of the RhodeWorks program. It suggests that the program's focus on bridge capital projects inadvertently exacerbated the decay of secondary road conditions across the state.
Drivers in Rhode Island may encounter increasingly poor road conditions, including severe pavement cracking, which can lead to higher vehicle maintenance costs. These infrastructure challenges reflect a state budget landscape where debt payments consume 15.2% of transportation funding.
The takeaway
The state's current infrastructure strategy underscores the difficulty of balancing emergency bridge repairs with the ongoing maintenance of secondary road networks. Residents should prepare for potential long-term road quality issues as the state navigates a $278.9 million funding shortfall.
What happens next
The performance audit of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation being conducted by Baker Tilly is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Further reading
For more information on state infrastructure, visit the Car Maintenance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WPRI.
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