Capital and bridge disbursements are the costs to build new and to widen existing highways and bridges.
Capital and bridge disbursements for state-owned roads equal 50.8% of total disbursements, totaling $77.15 billion in 2018, about 7.5% more than was spent in 2016 ($71.75 billion), the last time this assessment was completed.
This year, we measure capital and bridge disbursements per state highway agency (SHA), lane-mile, and vehicle-mile traveled (VMT) per lane-mile. Last year, we measured them in lane-miles and in past years we measured them in centerline-miles. The average 2018 centerline-mile disbursement is $151,137, a 71.3% increase from 2016’s $88,212 per mile. The average 2018 lane-mile disbursement is $46,805, a 27.6% increase from 2016’s $36,681. The average 2018 disbursement per VMT is $28,290.
This significant increase accelerates a decade-long trend of a steady increase in spending. Since 2007, these per-mile disbursements have increased by about 97%, while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by about 22%.
In 2018, Missouri, New Mexico, Kansas, South Dakota, and South Carolina reported the lowest capital and bridge expenditures. New Jersey, Alaska, Massachusetts, Florida, and West Virginia reported the highest expenditures. In terms of disbursements per lane-mile, the largest percentage shifts from 2016 to 2018 were West Virginia and Alabama (which increased per lane-mile expenditures by more than 105%) and Idaho and North Dakota (which decreased per lane-mile expenditures by more than 50%).
In terms of disbursements per SHA, the largest percentage shifts from 2016 to 2018 were West Virginia and California (which increased per lane-mile expenditures by 128% and 121%, respectively) and North Dakota and Wisconsin (which decreased per lane-mile expenditures by 52% and 37%, respectively). Some of the disbursements per state-controlled mile can vary widely from year to year—reflecting funding actions and project schedules.
Capital and Bridge Disbursements Per State-Controlled Mile
| 2018 Rank | State | Z Score | Disbursement Per SHA | Disbursement Per Lane Mile | Disbursement Per VMT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | -2.27 | $27,180 | $11,780 | $12,010 |
| 2 | New Mexico | -2.08 | $36,790 | $8,940 | $16,120 |
| 3 | Kansas | -1.84 | $46,830 | $19,620 | $14,970 |
| 4 | South Dakota | -1.78 | $28,090 | $9,870 | $22,410 |
| 5 | South Carolina | -1.74 | $29,470 | $13,420 | $21,430 |
| 6 | Louisiana | -1.65 | $51,580 | $21,850 | $17,190 |
| 7 | Tennessee | -1.5 | $80,800 | $29,150 | $13,830 |
| 8 | Mississippi | -1.5 | $65,030 | $24,950 | $17,440 |
| 9 | Georgia | -1.47 | $89,290 | $32,270 | $12,190 |
| 10 | Kentucky | -1.46 | $42,190 | $18,380 | $23,570 |
| 11 | Idaho | -1.41 | $85,620 | $9,530 | $24,090 |
| 12 | North Dakota | -1.4 | $35,690 | $15,190 | $26,770 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | -1.36 | $82,870 | $32,720 | $14,770 |
| 14 | Minnesota | -1.35 | $84,500 | $29,120 | $16,400 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | -1.15 | $71,490 | $32,240 | $20,260 |
| 16 | Nebraska | -1.14 | $54,940 | $23,910 | $26,050 |
| 17 | Virginia | -1.09 | $43,260 | $19,870 | $29,920 |
| 18 | Montana | -1.01 | $40,490 | $12,800 | $35,150 |
| 19 | Michigan | -0.99 | $127,270 | $44,790 | $12,030 |
| 20 | Maine | -0.95 | $52,720 | $24,290 | $29,780 |
| 21 | North Carolina | -0.93 | $47,930 | $21,880 | $31,660 |
| 22 | Ohio | -0.88 | $109,010 | $39,920 | $18,330 |
| 23 | Wyoming | -0.87 | $51,380 | $20,450 | $33,200 |
| 24 | Indiana | -0.87 | $117,000 | $43,850 | $15,980 |
| 25 | Arkansas | -0.86 | $72,890 | $17,470 | $32,730 |
| 26 | Arizona | -0.83 | $163,070 | $33,940 | $16,720 |
| 27 | Vermont | -0.62 | $79,840 | $34,970 | $28,560 |
| 28 | Colorado | -0.6 | $122,650 | $44,120 | $20,540 |
| 29 | Oregon | -0.43 | $121,500 | $41,690 | $25,090 |
| 30 | Texas | -0.33 | $102,010 | $41,550 | $29,100 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | -0.32 | $108,950 | $40,070 | $29,370 |
| 32 | Alabama | -0.16 | $146,870 | $53,280 | $22,570 |
| 33 | Nevada | 0.02 | $141,080 | $53,030 | $26,920 |
| 34 | Iowa | 0.07 | $123,940 | $45,120 | $33,120 |
| 35 | Utah | 0.07 | $149,630 | $52,160 | $27,450 |
| 36 | Hawaii | 0.31 | $203,780 | $71,880 | $17,710 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | 0.32 | $103,870 | $44,600 | $40,410 |
| 38 | Washington | 0.39 | $248,150 | $43,010 | $28,060 |
| 39 | New York | 0.48 | $192,050 | $69,220 | $23,450 |
| 40 | California | 0.84 | $303,400 | $82,650 | $13,130 |
| 41 | Delaware | 1.08 | $102,620 | $46,150 | $54,740 |
| 42 | Illinois | 1.25 | $217,340 | $77,980 | $32,010 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 1.36 | $243,550 | $84,350 | $28,670 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 1.46 | $234,550 | $82,660 | $32,240 |
| 45 | Maryland | 1.85 | $299,850 | $98,880 | $25,900 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 2.5 | $54,560 | $26,220 | $96,540 |
| 47 | Florida | 4.52 | $552,000 | $149,300 | $30,120 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | 4.53 | $584,450 | $150,910 | $26,310 |
| 49 | Alaska | 4.87 | $126,260 | $40,390 | $129,620 |
| 50 | New Jersey | 10.93 | $1,256,600 | $253,860 | $37,820 |
| Average | $151,138 | $46,805 | $28,289 |