Rhode Island Road Quality Declined Amid Bridge Spending

Drivers in Rhode Island face more poor-condition roads as bridge repairs dominated the state's recent transportation budget.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Car Maintenance

Isometric editorial illustration of a cracked asphalt road leading toward a concrete bridge pillar, representing infrastructure maintenance trade-offs. — A Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council study shows that state secondary road conditions deteriorated as capital funding was redirected toward emergency bridge repairs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should your state government prioritize bridge repairs over routine road maintenance?

A new study by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council found that state secondary roads in poor condition rose to 19.4% in 2024, up from 14.8% in 2015. This shift occurred as the state prioritized bridge capital projects to prevent failures, culminating in a significant focus on bridge-related costs.

Why it matters

The strategy to focus on structural bridge integrity, including the $572.1 million Washington Bridge replacement, diverted limited capital away from routine road maintenance. Residents now face higher rates of pavement cracking and infrastructure deterioration as a result of these budgetary trade-offs.

Rhode Island spent 50% of its capital budget on bridges from 2020 to 2024, compared to just 31% on roads. During this period, the state spent $8.40 on capital projects for every $1 of maintenance, while debt payments now consume 15.2% of the total transportation budget.

The players

Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council

An independent organization that tracks state fiscal policy and transportation spending patterns.

Rhode Island Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for managing bridge and road infrastructure maintenance and capital projects.

Baker Tilly

An advisory firm tasked with completing a performance audit of transportation spending by 2027.

The details

The state utilized the RhodeWorks program to implement a 10-year plan that aggressively prioritized bridge repairs to avoid systemic collapses. However, this capital-heavy approach left less funding available for secondary road surfaces, which have experienced increased cracking. The strategy was further stressed by the unplanned $572.1 million expense following the failure of the Washington Bridge in December 2023.

2015: 14.8% of state secondary roads were in poor condition.
2020-2024: Period of tracked capital and maintenance spending.
December 2023: Washington Bridge failed.
2024: 19.4% of state secondary roads were in poor condition.
March 2027: Deadline for the performance audit completion.

The Home Front

The transition from routine road maintenance to massive capital investments in bridge safety marks a major shift in Rhode Island's infrastructure management. This strategy, codified by the RhodeWorks program, highlights the significant fiscal challenge of balancing aging road surfaces against critical, emergency-level bridge repairs.

With 23.1% of state roads showing severe pavement cracking, drivers should be extra vigilant for tire and suspension damage. Check your tire pressure and tread depth regularly, and consult a professional mechanic if you notice unusual noises or handling issues after driving on poorly maintained secondary routes.

The takeaway

The prioritization of bridge safety over secondary road upkeep has left many state routes in poor condition. Drivers should factor potential increases in vehicle alignment and tire wear maintenance into their family budgets due to the current state of road infrastructure.

What happens next

A performance audit by Baker Tilly is scheduled to be released by March 2027, which will provide further insight into the long-term effectiveness of the state's transportation spending strategies.