If transportation is not adequately funded roads age and pavement deteriorates. The department has made progress in improving Idaho's pavement condition since it was 40 percent deficient in 1992. However, after achieving a goal of 15 percent in 2002, Idaho's percentage of deficient pavement has started to increase again.

It's far less expensive to maintain a road for 40 years than to reconstruct it every 15 years. With proper maintenance, some Idaho roads can last 40 years or more.

General road maintenance schedule:

- Year 1: New road constructed
- Year 2: Seal coat
- Year 12: Surface rehabilitation and seal coat
- Year 24: Surface rehabilitation and seal coat
- Year 36: Surface rehabilitation and seal coat
- Year 40: Consider constructing new road

Without maintenance, a road may need to be reconstructed every 12 to 15 years. Reconstruction is six times more expensive than maintenance. A non-maintained road would have to be reconstructed three times to provide 40 years of service.

Bridges on the state highway system are aging

Bridges are designed to last about 50 years. Once a bridge gets to be 50 years old, work generally needs to be done. Some of the work includes bridge deck replacement and addressing problems associated with corrosion of the reinforcing steel.

Many of Idaho's bridges were constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s during the interstate construction era. Of the state's Structurally Deficient Bridges, 86 percent are 40 years old or older. Structurally deficient bridges may need work on piers, foundations or decks.

Sixty-seven percent of the state's Functionally Obsolete Bridges are 40 years old or older. These bridges may need to be widened or need new bridge rail.

Of the bridges that restrict commercial traffic (weight restricted bridges) eight out of nine are 50 years or older.

About half of Idaho's bridges will be 50 years or older over the next 10 years. These bridges will require an infusion of funds for maintenance, rehabilitation, reconstruction and replacement.

Daily traffic continues to grow

Growth means more and more vehicles on the road. More vehicles mean congestion – an increasing concern for Idahoans.

Congestion is occurring in urban areas where traffic is bumper-to-bumper and a single accident may bring traffic to a halt for hours. Congestion also occurs in rural areas where inadequate passing opportunities behind a slow moving vehicle backs up traffic.

Traffic, particularly along the I-84 corridor in the Treasure Valley, has grown substantially. But it has also grown statewide on every major corridor.