---
title: "Nebraska Spends 37,000 Dollars Per Mile. Still the 3rd Worst Roads in America."
description: "Nebraska ranks 3rd worst nationally for road quality with 32% of roads in poor condition and a roughness index of 137.7. The state spends $37,166 per lane mile, ranking 17th highest nationally. Like Rhode Island, Nebraska exemplifies the spending paradox: high investment that fails to produce proportional results."
canonical: "https://sidekick.vin/takes/nebraska-spends-37-000-dollars-per-lane-mile-on-roads-they-are-still-the-3rd-worst-in-america"
type: "take"
category: "deep-dive"
author: "Mira"
publishedAt: "2026-04-01T21:51:13.099Z"
readTimeMinutes: 3
keywords: []
---

# Nebraska Spends 37,000 Dollars Per Mile. Still the 3rd Worst Roads in America.

> **TL;DR:** Nebraska ranks 3rd worst nationally for road quality with 32% of roads in poor condition and a roughness index of 137.7. The state spends $37,166 per lane mile, ranking 17th highest nationally. Like Rhode Island, Nebraska exemplifies the spending paradox: high investment that fails to produce proportional results. Nebraska drivers pay above-average taxes for below-average roads.

## TL;DR

- **Nebraska ranks 3rd worst** for road quality with 32% of roads in poor condition and a roughness index of 137.7, per [MoneyGeek/FHWA data](https://www.moneygeek.com/living/driving/states-worst-road-infrastructure/).
- **The state spends $37,166 per lane mile**, ranking 17th highest nationally. Only 16 states spend more per mile, yet Nebraska's roads are worse than 47 others.
- **Nebraska and Rhode Island are the two clearest examples** of the spending paradox: high investment, poor outcomes.

---

## Key Numbers at a Glance

| Stat | Number | Source | Date |
|------|--------|--------|------|
| Road roughness index (3rd worst) | 137.7 | MoneyGeek / FHWA | 2025 |
| Roads in poor condition | 32% | MoneyGeek / FHWA | 2025 |
| Roads in poor condition (urban) | 33% | MoneyGeek / FHWA | 2025 |
| Spending per lane mile | $37,166 | MoneyGeek / FHWA | 2025 |
| Spending intensity rank | 17th highest | MoneyGeek / FHWA | 2025 |
| Annual highway budget | $1.6 billion | MoneyGeek / FHWA | 2025 |

Last verified: April 2026

---

Nebraska is not a state you expect to see near the top of a worst roads list. It is flat, relatively low-traffic, and spends more per lane mile than 33 other states. Yet there it is: [3rd worst in America](https://www.moneygeek.com/living/driving/states-worst-road-infrastructure/) with 32% of roads in poor condition.

## The Numbers Do Not Add Up

At $37,166 per lane mile, Nebraska outspends states with dramatically better roads:

| State | Spending per mile | Roads in poor condition |
|-------|------------------|------------------------|
| Nebraska | $37,166 | 32% |
| New Hampshire | $18,658 | 5% |
| Alabama | $19,333 | 4% |
| Georgia | $15,995 | 4% |
| Minnesota | $22,004 | 4% |

Nebraska spends more than double what Georgia spends and has roads that are 8 times worse by percentage of poor-condition miles. Something is structurally wrong with how the money is being deployed.

## Possible Explanations

**Extreme temperature range.** Nebraska experiences both harsh winters and hot summers. The temperature range from winter lows (-20F) to summer highs (100F+) creates more thermal stress cycles than states with less extreme swings.

**Expansive soil.** Parts of Nebraska have clay-heavy soil that expands when wet and contracts when dry. This movement creates stress on road bases that accelerates surface failure.

**Heavy agricultural traffic.** Farm equipment and grain trucks put enormous stress on roads not designed for those loads, especially county and state routes.

**Spending allocation.** High per-mile spending does not mean the money is going to the right places. If a disproportionate share goes to new construction rather than maintenance of existing roads, the overall condition deteriorates.

## What This Means for Nebraska Drivers

With [33% of urban roads in poor condition](https://www.moneygeek.com/living/driving/states-worst-road-infrastructure/), Nebraska's metro drivers (Omaha, Lincoln) face road damage costs at or above the national urban average of $750 per year. Rural drivers face different but also significant costs from rough pavement on state highways.

The [25% tariff on imported tires](https://www.performanceplustire.com/Blog/how-tariffs-supply-chain-trends-affect-tire-prices) compounds the problem, pushing up the cost of every tire replacement.

## What You Should Do

1. **Get alignment checked twice per year**, especially after spring thaw and before winter.
2. **Budget $50 to $70 per month** for road-related vehicle maintenance.
3. **Report road damage** through the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
4. **Buy tires before you need them** to lock in current pricing ahead of tariff increases.
5. **Consider winter tires** for November through March to reduce pothole impact damage.

---

*Part of the "America's Most Expensive Roads" series. [Read the national overview](https://sidekick.vin/takes/america-has-4-2-million-potholes-drivers-pay-33-billion-dollars-a-year-to-fix-the-damage-now-a-25-percent-tariff-on-tires-and-parts-means-those-repairs-cost-even-more) for the full state ranking and tariff breakdown.*