Article by: JournalStar.com  

Nebraska’s state highway system ranked sixth in the nation in overall highway performance and efficiency in 2009, according to a national report.

The state's ranking was down one spot from the previous year, said the Reason Foundation, a Washington, D.C.,-based group.

The findings are part of the foundation's 20th annual report on the performance of state-owned highway systems in the United States.

Eleven indicators make up each state’s overall rating, including highway expenditures, interstate and primary road pavement condition, bridge condition, urban interstate congestion, fatality rates and narrow rural lanes.

The study is based on spending and performance data submitted by state highway agencies to the federal government.

According to the report, Nebraska ranks first in rural interstate pavement condition, 23rd in fatality rate, 27th in deficient bridges, 27th in urban interstate pavement in poor condition, and 18th in urban interstate congestion.

Nebraska achieved its performance while spending less than half of the national average per highway mile, the report said.

Also, Nebraska's administrative costs per mile are the fifth lowest and total disbursements per mile are the ninth lowest.

The overall condition of the nation's state highway system improved dramatically from 2008 to 2009. Six of the seven key indicators of system conditions  showed improvement, including large gains in rural interstate and urban interstate conditions and a reduction in the fatality rate.

North Dakota continued to lead the cost-effectiveness ratings, followed by Kansas, Wyoming, New Mexico and Montana.

For a detailed look at the report, visit: reason.org/studies/show/20th-annual-highway-report#sthash.1tBhvaxU.dpuf.