We all shake our fists at city hall when we rattle down a bumpy road (aka: Broadway Boulevard) — it’s only natural. But it’s hard to grasp the scope of what we’re dealing with when we talk about street infrastructure. Consider that:
- The US has the world’s biggest road network with over 4 million miles of paved roads. That’s 6,000 lane miles in KCMO alone.
- US roads handle a ton of wear and tear. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates upwards of 3.2 trillion miles traveled on roads in 2019.
- Weather takes its toll on roads, too, by expanding and contracting concrete. Rising temperatures could add $19 billion a year to road costs by 2040.
Whew, that’s a lot to keep up with.
Disrepaired roads are dangerous, and they cost motorists ~$1,000 a year. Help out by reporting potholes to 311 (or in KC, on the myKCMO app).