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Florida's roads rank near top in study

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By RICH SHOPES

rshopes@tampatrib.com

Published: May 16, 2009

TAMPA - Traffic might be a bummer, but at least the roads are in good shape.

A national study says Florida's roads are better than those of most states and that the Bay area ranks third in urban areas with more than 500,000 people for percentage of roads in good condition.

"Certainly the absence of freeze and thaw cycles is to Florida's advantage," said Frank Moretti, a researcher at The Road Information Program, which performed the study with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Three Florida metro areas grabbed the nation's top spots. Tampa-St. Petersburg was behind Jacksonville and Orlando in percentage of roads in good shape, or free of potholes and jarring bumps and cracks, the study states. Jacksonville and Orlando rated 69 percent and 68 percent, respectively. Tampa-St. Petersburg came in at 67 percent.

The association says U.S. roads and bridges are deteriorating rapidly and fixing them will cost $166 billion a year through 2015, significantly higher than the $78 billion invested nationally in 2006.

The study, which came out last week, uses ratings of "poor," "mediocre," "fair" and "good" to discern conditions on city, county and state highways. Vehicles with sensors determined the roads' smoothness. Construction zones and minor side streets were not included.

Florida tied for third with Montana (76 percent) for roads in good shape, behind Georgia (92 percent) and Nevada (81 percent).

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

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