New York ranks among the worst states in the nation for deteriorating bridge infrastructure and poor road conditions, according to a new LendingTree analysis of federal transportation data that paints a troubling picture for drivers across the state.
The report found 15.8% of evaluated road miles in New York are considered to be in poor condition, ranking the state eighth worst nationally. Only Rhode Island, California, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico and Louisiana ranked worse.
New York performed even worse when it came to bridges.
According to the analysis, 12.3% of bridge area in the state is now considered to be in poor condition — the second-highest rate in the country behind only West Virginia. Rhode Island ranked third.
The report also found New York’s bridge infrastructure deteriorated significantly over the last five years. Between 2020 and 2025, the share of bridge area considered in poor condition increased 28.1%, the second-largest increase nationwide behind Utah.
Nationally, conditions improved slightly overall. The share of poor road miles across the U.S. declined from 9.2% to 8.9% between 2019 and 2024, while poor bridge area dropped from 5.2% to 4.9%.
But New York moved in the opposite direction on bridges, reinforcing long-running concerns about aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance and the growing cost of large-scale transportation projects.
LendingTree’s analysis cited federal highway data and noted that infrastructure deterioration can create safety concerns for drivers while also increasing vehicle repair costs tied to potholes, uneven pavement and aging roadway systems.
The report noted that while road quality plays a role in safety, modern road design and maintenance investment often matter more than raw pavement condition alone.
“These projects are expensive, and while the federal government helps, it often requires matching funds from local agencies,” LendingTree insurance expert Rob Bhatt said in the report. “Many states and municipalities don’t have the budget for that, so some systems are allowed to deteriorate until there’s enough public pressure to invest.”
Rhode Island ranked worst nationally for road conditions, with 31.5% of road miles considered poor. California ranked second at 27%.
Nevada had the nation’s best bridge conditions, while Alabama ranked best for road conditions.
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