Georgia has 13th-best roads in U.S., but I-285 singled out among worst

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia has the 13th-best roads in the United States, according to Reader's Digest.

However, I-285 made the magazine's list of 15 roads that are "dreaded, dreadful and deadly."

Kansas has the best roads, Louisiana the worst. No. 9 Virginia was the only Southern state ranked ahead of Georgia.

Montana has the deadliest roads, with Georgia the 20th deadliest. Montana also has the deadliest roads for DUI, while Alabama has the deadliest roads for speeding.

Reader's Digest said it came up with the rankings by analyzing the latest data from the Federal Highway Administration, focusing on safety, congestion and the condition of highways and bridges.

The magazine quoted trucker Clarence Jenkins in criticizing I-285.

"People drive like they're on the motor speedway," said Jenkins, of Charleston, W.Va. "There's always so much congestion, and people are constantly cutting in and out. The worst part is where 85 and a bunch of local highways come in: Spaghetti Junction. There are multiple ramps at different levels, and so many people getting on and off, it's just very confusing. You have one little accident and it shuts everything down."

Check out the full rankings.