SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - The state of roads remains a contentious issue across Louisiana.
TRIP Recently, a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching, assessing, and disseminating economic and technical information about surface transportation matters conducted a study in Louisiana.
On April 9th, which was a Wednesday, Andrew Wellmann from KSLA participated in the virtual news conference called "Keeping Louisiana Mobile." During this event, TRIP presented their findings in the report.
"According to TRIP's report, 35% of the main roads in the Shreveport region are classified as being in poor condition, with an additional 25% categorized as mediocre," stated Rocky Moretti, who serves as the Director of Policy & Research.
Several inhabitants of Shreveport concurred with TRIP regarding the condition of the local roads.
"The manholes and potholes in the streets are quite rugged," stated Lanorika Jones.
"They're extremely rugged. I've had several blowouts due to potholes that were never repaired; everything just feels so uneven. Both the Louisiana interstates and the roads in Shreveport are poor quality, with many problematic routes scattered throughout," stated Perry Culver.
In addition to their observations about the roads, TRIP is also worried about the state of bridges in the region, noting that 9% of these structures are in bad shape and require urgent maintenance.
The research additionally reveals that subpar road conditions lead many motorists to forfeit several hundred dollars.
The typical driver in the Shreveport region endures an annual loss of $2,749 due to expenses related to lost time, inefficient fuel consumption from traffic jams, extra costs associated with driving on deteriorated roadways, and the financial impact of severe and lethal accidents, where insufficient highway safety measures may have played a role," stated Moretti. "Between 2018 and 2022, the Shreveport area experienced an average of 57 deaths per year resulting from these traffic collisions.
The research additionally reveals that Louisiana ranks as the 14th highest in terms of traffic-related deaths.
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