American Roads Are Getting Rougher as Repair Spending Plummets

When it comes to road conditions, drivers in some areas of the U.S. have it far rougher than others. Pandemic-punched budget holes may mean they won’t get smoothed out anytime soon.

Many cities have used lockdown-induced empty streets as an opportunity to make repairs without disrupting traffic. But more than 700 U.S. cities have said they may cut infrastructure spending because of budget shortfalls, and more states are pushing off construction projects. Funding sources for roads vary by state.

For drivers, roads can be bumpy for their wallets, too. Potholes caused an estimated $15 billion in damage to American cars ...