We recently compiled a list of the 20 Cities with the Best Roads in the US and in this article we will talk about The City with the Best Road in the US.
Challenges and Infrastructure of the US Highway System
The massive interstate highway network in the United States can handle heavy traffic. According to the Federal Highway Administration, there were 288.4 billion vehicle miles driven in the country in August 2023 alone, of which 92 billion were on rural roads and 196.4 billion were on urban highways and streets. Road traffic accidents also remain a significant concern in the United States, causing substantial loss of life and economic burden. Approximately 2.1 million people visited emergency rooms in 2020, and 40,000 people died in traffic accidents. This led to an estimated $430 billion in lost lives, medical expenses, and deterioration in quality of life.
US traffic crashes cost society an astounding $340 billion in 2019, of which $30 billion was borne by taxpayers. The economic cost of auto accidents is projected to be $242 billion annually, which includes $99 billion for lost productivity and medical expenses. The damage caused by auto accidents to society came to around $1.4 trillion. The yearly cost of these accidents approaches $1 trillion and includes emergency services, property damage, medical expenses, and legal bills.
An essential part of the US highway system is bridges and other structures. The Federal Highway Administration allots around $7 billion a year to transportation authorities to support their planning, design, and upkeep of these essential infrastructure components. For citizens all around the nation, safe and convenient transportation is guaranteed by this vast road network.
Major Players in Maintaining the Roads Across the US
Companies like Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC), and Deere & Company, among others, have been at the forefront of maintaining the quality of roads across the USA. For example, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)’s machinery and equipment are used extensively in road construction projects throughout the country. In 2022 alone, more than 150 Cat machines were used to build roads, prepare processing sites, remove overburden, and lay two pipelines totaling over 430 miles in North America. The company’s support for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in the United States demonstrates its ongoing commitment to infrastructure development. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) generated a revenue of $15.8 billion in Q1 2024, slightly down from $15.9 billion in Q1 2023 and Earnings per share (EPS) were $5.75 which is a 53.7% increase from $3.74 in Q1 2023 and above analyst estimates of $5.14. Caterpillar’s new retail business volume saw an 11% increase from Q1 2023, with profits reaching $2.74 billion.
Similarly, Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) is the nation’s largest producer of construction aggregates, including crushed stone, sand, and gravel, and a major producer of aggregates-based construction materials like asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. The company plays a vital role in maintaining and expanding the U.S. infrastructure by providing the essential materials for building roads, highways, bridges, and other vital projects across the country. As of December 31, 2023, the company had 397 active aggregates facilities across the U.S. Financially, Vulcan Materials Company (NYSE:VMC) achieved $323 million in adjusted EBITDA for Q1 2024 and in the Aggregates segment, cash gross profit per ton increased 10% to $8.86, despite a 7% drop in shipments to 48.1 million tons. For the full year, Vulcan Materials expects demand to be flat or decline by up to 4%, with single-family construction and public demand offsetting weaker non-residential and multifamily construction.
25 Countries with the Most Beautiful Roads in the World
Our Methodology
For our methodology, we ranked the cities with the best roads in the US based on consensus. We looked up for best roads on different websites and considered factors like drainage systems, traffic, infrastructure, and safety and assigned points to each city. The city ranking in the first place received a score of 1 (20/20=1) and the city ranking in the second place received a score of 0.95 (19/20=0.95), and so on.
1. Corpus Christi, TX
Insider Monkey Score: 1.0
Corpus Christi tops the list for being the city with the best road in the US. In 2024, the city announced a $24 million investment in a new street repair approach to address potholes and other road issues. The city has also introduced a Street Utility Fee, which applies to all properties with active utility accounts and those within the city limits that benefit from street maintenance. The city has categorized its street network into three main categories: arterials and collectors, residential streets, and local streets. Each category has a specific reconstruction strategy tailored to its traffic levels and needs. The city has three major highways (Hwy 358, Hwy 286, and Interstate 37) that facilitate smooth traffic movement.
To learn about other cities with the best roads in the US, you can check out our detailed report 20 Cities with the Best Roads in the US . At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the best online ESL courses to business aspects; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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