A study conducted by Teletrac Navman this spring found that I-85, which runs through Charlotte, is one of the top ‘deadliest roads’ in the United States. As coronavirus restrictions are lifted across the state and North Carolinians are returning to in-person work, I-85 is expected to become more congested.

I-85 isn’t the only dangerous highway in North Carolina. In an analysis by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that collected data from 2010-2019, North Carolina was ranked the 7th most dangerous state to drive in. Across the state, crumbling roads prove that North Carolina’s transportation infrastructure needs immediate improvement:

• Over 3,116 miles of highway in poor condition.
• Commute times increased by 10.7 percent since 2011.
• Drivers pay $500 per year on average in costs driving on roads in need of repair.

President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework will invest over $312 billion nationwide to transform our country’s transportation infrastructure to make it more resilient, including $110 billion for roads, bridges and other major projects, by repairing and rebuilding North Carolina’s roads and bridges with a focus on climate change mitigation, resilience, equity, and safety for all users, including cyclists and pedestrians.

“North Carolina’s crumbling highways and roads aren’t just an infrastructure issue but a safety issue. Our transportation infrastructure needs to ensure the safety of North Carolinians as they commute to work, pick up their children from school, run errands and go about their daily lives. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework will make the lives of millions of North Carolinians better with a historic investment in repairing roads to ensure the safety of our state for a generation to come,” said NCDP Spokesperson Ellie Dougherty.

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