Once again, readers say Pennsylvania has the nation’s worst roads, Texas the best.

Comedian W.C. Fields said: “On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.” According to the latest Overdrive Worst Roads survey,most truckers would rather not. On the whole, most would rather skip all of Pennsylvania.

For the second consecutive year and the fifth time in a decade, Pennsylvania leads our worst roads list. Among the chief complaints: the conditions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-78 and I-80, and poor signage. The Turnpike, also known as I-76, is further ripped for its high tolls.

On the other hand, Texas Department of Transportation officials must be thrilled with their Highway Report Card showing. The Lone Star state again leads in best highways, most overnight parking, best roads and best truck stops.

PennDOT officials are confounded why the state that gave America Hershey bars, cheese steaks and the Declaration of Independence continues to get such a bad rap. Rich Kirkpatrick, spokesman for PennDOT, says his state spent $1.3 billion on highway and bridge projects in 2004. The budget for 2005 is at an equal pace, with $139 million going toward various I-95 projects in the Philadelphia area and $43 million slated for a reconstruction of I-80 near State College.

“We’re making progress,” Kirkpatrick says. And survey participants seem to have noticed: The much-maligned I-80 is second for most improved road and appears further down the best roads list. I-81 is fifth on the most improved list. Pennsylvania doesn’t appear among the top 3 in any “worst” category, except toughest inspections.