According to the June 2025 report from TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, more than one-third of Schuylkill County’s state-maintained local roads—36%—are in poor condition, compared to the statewide average of 26%. Another 26% are rated fair, with only 10% considered excellent.
“These roadways are essential arteries that connect residents to work, schools, and healthcare,” the report states, warning that inadequate funding and rising construction costs could lead to even worse conditions over the next decade.
Bridges across Schuylkill County also fared poorly in the assessment. Out of 408 locally and state-maintained bridges surveyed, 112—or 27%—are classified as poor or structurally deficient. By contrast, only 14% of Pennsylvania’s local bridges fall into that category.
Structurally deficient bridges often require weight restrictions, detours, or even closures—measures that can delay emergency services, increase transportation costs for local businesses, and lengthen commute times for residents.
Safety remains a serious concern as well. From 2019 through 2023, Schuylkill County averaged 15 fatalities each year on local roads, with a traffic fatality rate of 2.35 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. That figure is significantly higher than the statewide rate of 1.55.
TRIP’s report attributes much of the problem to declining fuel tax revenue—due to more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles—and inflation that has driven up the cost of road repairs by 54% since 2022. While federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has provided some relief, state transportation officials say it’s not enough to reverse decades of underinvestment.
Local officials and transportation advocates are urging state lawmakers to increase funding to maintain and modernize Pennsylvania’s local transportation network. Without new investments, the report warns, drivers in Schuylkill County could face even rougher roads, more structurally compromised bridges, and heightened safety risks in the years ahead.
For more information, the full report is available at tripnet.org.