Aging Roads Require More Money

Highways in the Jackson Hole area have jarred many residents to the reality that some of our state roads are wearing out.  Wyoming Department of Transportation officials say despite their best efforts, they just haven’t been able to keep up with the deterioration of the aging roads.  It’s not a problem peculiar to Jackson Hole, though, and Governor Matt Mead says finding the money to deal with the state’s crumbling highways is a concern.  Mead says he proposed $100-million additional funding for highways; and while he says it represents a considerable amount of money, the state is not saving money if it doesn’t look after its highways.  Mead says if you don’t pay a dollar today to maintain a road, you will pay $10  next year.  He quickly adds that the state’s highways are critical to economic development, transportation of the state’s children to school, and the future of tourism.  Mead says he challenged the state legislature during this just-concluded session to find a solution to the highway funding dilemma, but nothing was found on which they could concur.  Mead says he hopes it can be addressed during next session.