Georgia’s highway system has been ranked second in the nation for overall cost-effectiveness and condition, according to the nonprofit public policy research organization, the Reason Foundation.
The ranking is part of the organization’s 29th Annual Highway Report, which evaluates highway systems in all 50 states using 13 performance metrics, including traffic fatalities, pavement condition, congestion levels, structurally deficient bridges and overall spending.
Officials with the Georgia Department of Transportation said the recognition reflects the agency’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the state’s transportation network.
“The department takes great pride in the state’s highway system being among the best in the nation, and this ranking reflects the hard work and dedication of our employees,” said Russell R. McMurry, commissioner of Georgia DOT. “However, we recognize that the work is never truly finished and remain committed to providing a safe, efficient, and innovative transportation network for the people of Georgia.”
The Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report uses a cost-versus-quality approach to evaluate state highway systems, comparing performance against available resources such as budget, system size, traffic volume and geography. In this year’s report, Georgia moved up four spots to reach second place nationally. The report noted that the state performs especially well in arterial pavement condition, bridge quality and spending efficiency.
Georgia DOT manages the 10th largest transportation network in the United States and is responsible for planning, constructing and maintaining the state’s roads, bridges and interstate highways. The department also supports intermodal transportation, including waterways, public transit, rail and aviation.
More information about Georgia DOT funding, performance measures and operations is available in the department’s Fiscal Year 2025 Accountability and Investment Report.