(INDIANAPOLIS) - New data suggests Indiana may have the best roads in the country, despite the common frustrations of potholes and construction.
A report published in the Journal of Consumer Research gave Indiana the top overall ranking, using road surface data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and traffic fatality rates from the Federal Highway Administration.
The report found fewer than 5 percent of Indiana's urban roads and less than 2 percent of rural roads were rated in "poor" condition. The state also recorded 1.05 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.
Officials with Indiana Department of Transportation say the ranking reflects ongoing investment in roadwork across the state.
The agency's public relations director says construction projects, while often inconvenient, are key to maintaining and improving road conditions.
INDOT reports about 1,000 projects are planned for 2026, with roughly 6,300 lanes of traffic expected to be improved or added.
State officials say long-term planning plays a major role, with some projects already being mapped out several years in advance.