Report finds bad roads cost Traverse City drivers $1,934 per year

TRAVERSE CITY — Roads and bridges in poor condition, congestion and outdated safety features are costing Michigan drivers $17.3 billion annually, with motorists in the Traverse City area paying an average of $1,934 each year, according to a new report from the transportation research group TRIP.

The report, “ Keeping Michigan Mobile: Providing a Modern, Sustainable Transportation System in the Great Lakes State ,” was released late August and found that deteriorated infrastructure and delays add costs through higher vehicle operating expenses, wasted fuel and traffic crashes.

Statewide and local conditions

In the Traverse City area, 10% of major roads are in poor condition and 14% are in mediocre condition, adding an estimated $405 per year in vehicle costs such as repairs, fuel consu