Denver Roads May Be Terrible, But Things Could Be Worse

As our recent collection of the fifteen funniest/most painful pothole memes makes clear, Denver-area drivers have been lamenting what many see as the terrible condition of local roads. But according to a new report from TRIP, a national transportation research group based in Washington, D.C., things could be worse. A...

By Michael Roberts

July 24, 2015

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As our recent collection of the fifteen funniest/most painful pothole memes makes clear, Denver-area drivers have been lamenting what many see as the terrible condition of local roads.

But according to a new report from TRIP, a national transportation research group based in Washington, D.C., things could be worse.

A lot worse.

Among the data gathered in "Bumpy Roads Ahead America’s Roughest Rides and Strategies to Make our Roads Smoother," on view below, is a list of the 25 large urban regions (defined as the "major city in a region and its neighboring or surrounding suburban areas" with a population of 500,000 or more) that have the highest percentage of poor roads. And while Denver makes the list, it's not anywhere near the top.

No reason to celebrate this achievement, though. As you'll see, the percentage of poor roads in and around Denver is still frightfully high, albeit only a little more than half the total in the area determined to have the most problematic roads in the country.

See the photo-illustrated top 25 below, followed by the complete TRIP study, which also includes suggestions to improve the current situation.

Number 1: San Francisco-Oakland, California
Percentage of poor roads: 74 percent

Number 2: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California
Percentage of poor roads: 73 percent

Number 3: Concord, California
Percentage of poor roads: 62 percent

Number 4: Detroit, Michigan
Percentage of poor roads: 56 percent

Number 5: San Jose, California
Percentage of poor roads: 53 percent

Number 6: Cleveland, Ohio
Percentage of poor roads: 52 percent

Number 7: New York, New York-Newark, New Jersey
Percentage of poor roads: 51 percent

Number 8: San Diego, California
Percentage of poor roads: 51 percent

Number 9: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Percentage of poor roads: 51 percent

Number 10: Honolulu, Hawaii
Percentage of poor roads: 51 percent

Number 11: Akron, Ohio
Percentage of poor roads: 50 percent

Number 12: San Antonio, Texas
Percentage of poor roads: 49 percent

Number 13: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Percentage of poor roads: 46 percent

Number 14: Riverside-San Bernardino, California
Percentage of poor roads: 46 percent

Number 15: El Paso, Texas
Percentage of poor roads: 46 percent

Number 16: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Percentage of poor roads: 45 percent

Number 17: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Percentage of poor roads: 45 percent

Number 18: New Haven, Connecticut
Percentage of poor roads: 45 percent

Number 19: Bridgeport-Stamford, Connecticut
Percentage of poor roads: 44 percent

Number 20: Birmingham, Alabama
Percentage of poor roads: 43 percent

Number 21: Denver, Colorado
Percentage of poor roads: 43 percent

Number 22: Seattle, Washington
Percentage of poor roads: 42 percent

Number 23: Omaha, Nebraska
Percentage of poor roads: 42 percent

Number 24, Sacramento, California
Percentage of poor roads: 42 percent

Number 25: New Orleans, Louisiana
Percentage of poor roads: 42 percent

TRIP Urban Roads Report

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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