Policy Study

25th Annual Highway Report: Capital-Bridge Disbursements Per Mile

Since 2007, these per-mile disbursements have increased by about 97%, while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by about 22%.

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 RankStateZ ScoreDisbursement Per SHADisbursement Per Lane MileDisbursement Per VMT
1Missouri-2.27$27,180$11,780$12,010
2New Mexico-2.08$36,790$8,940$16,120
3Kansas-1.84$46,830$19,620$14,970
4South Dakota-1.78$28,090$9,870$22,410
5South Carolina-1.74$29,470$13,420$21,430
6Louisiana-1.65$51,580$21,850$17,190
7Tennessee-1.5$80,800$29,150$13,830
8Mississippi-1.5$65,030$24,950$17,440
9Georgia-1.47$89,290$32,270$12,190
10Kentucky-1.46$42,190$18,380$23,570
11Idaho-1.41$85,620$9,530$24,090
12North Dakota-1.4$35,690$15,190$26,770
13Wisconsin-1.36$82,870$32,720$14,770
14Minnesota-1.35$84,500$29,120$16,400
15New Hampshire-1.15$71,490$32,240$20,260
16Nebraska-1.14$54,940$23,910$26,050
17Virginia-1.09$43,260$19,870$29,920
18Montana-1.01$40,490$12,800$35,150
19Michigan-0.99$127,270$44,790$12,030
20Maine-0.95$52,720$24,290$29,780
21North Carolina-0.93$47,930$21,880$31,660
22Ohio-0.88$109,010$39,920$18,330
23Wyoming-0.87$51,380$20,450$33,200
24Indiana-0.87$117,000$43,850$15,980
25Arkansas-0.86$72,890$17,470$32,730
26Arizona-0.83$163,070$33,940$16,720
27Vermont-0.62$79,840$34,970$28,560
28Colorado-0.6$122,650$44,120$20,540
29Oregon-0.43$121,500$41,690$25,090
30Texas-0.33$102,010$41,550$29,100
31Oklahoma-0.32$108,950$40,070$29,370
32Alabama-0.16$146,870$53,280$22,570
33Nevada0.02$141,080$53,030$26,920
34Iowa0.07$123,940$45,120$33,120
35Utah0.07$149,630$52,160$27,450
36Hawaii0.31$203,780$71,880$17,710
37Pennsylvania0.32$103,870$44,600$40,410
38Washington0.39$248,150$43,010$28,060
39New York0.48$192,050$69,220$23,450
40California0.84$303,400$82,650$13,130
41Delaware1.08$102,620$46,150$54,740
42Illinois1.25$217,340$77,980$32,010
43Connecticut1.36$243,550$84,350$28,670
44Rhode Island1.46$234,550$82,660$32,240
45Maryland1.85$299,850$98,880$25,900
46West Virginia2.5$54,560$26,220$96,540
47Florida4.52$552,000$149,300$30,120
48Massachusetts4.53$584,450$150,910$26,310
49Alaska4.87$126,260$40,390$129,620
50New Jersey10.93$1,256,600$253,860$37,820
Average$151,138$46,805$28,289
View national trends and state-by-state performances by category:
overall
Overall
total-disbursements-per-mile
Total Disbursements Per Mile
capital-bridge-disbursements-per-mile
Capital & Bridge Disbursements Per Mile
maintenance-disbursements-per-mile
Maintenance Disbursements Per Mile
administrative-disbursements-per-mile
Administrative Disbursements Per Mile
rural-interstate-percent-poor-condition
Rural Interstate Pavement Condition
rural-other-principal-arterial-percent-narrow-lanes
Rural Arterial Pavement Condition
urban-interstate-percent-poor-condition
Urban Interstate Pavement Condition
rural-other-principal-arterial-percent-poor-condition
Urban Arterial Pavement Condition
urbanized-area-congestion-peak-hours-spent-in-congestion-per-auto-commuter
Urbanized Area Congestion
bridges-percent-deficient
Structurally Deficient Bridges
fatality-rate-per-100-million-vehicle-miles-of-travel
Overall Fatality Rate
fatality-rate-per-100-million-vehicle-miles-of-travel
Rural Fatality Rate
fatality-rate-per-100-million-vehicle-miles-of-travel
Urban Fatality Rate