Mary Fallin: Not Enough Is Being Done To Fix Oklahoma Roads

Monday night, the U.S. Senate moved ahead on a plan to add $20 billion for highway repairs across the country. But&nbsp;Congresswoman Mary Fallin says that&#39;s just a drop in the bucket. Oklahoma alone could spend half that. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12025192" target="_self">I-44 Temporarily Closing At 161st East Avenue Junction</a>

Monday, February 22nd 2010, 9:33 pm

By: News On 6


By Chris Wright, The News On 6

UNDATED -- Monday night, the U.S. Senate moved ahead on a plan to add $20 billion for highway repairs across the country. But Oklahoma's lone woman in Congress says that's just a drop in the bucket. Oklahoma alone could spend half that. 

Mary Fallin says not enough is being done to fix Oklahoma's crumbling roads.

The ongoing issues at the I-44 bridge may symbolize the problems many Green Country drivers have with area roads. Fortunately, the bridge is actually being replaced as part of a $7 million project.

2/22/2010  Related Story: I-44 Temporarily Closing At 161st East Avenue Junction

The money for the work has already been allocated, but Congresswoman Mary Fallin says future projects could be in doubt. 

"We've got a lot of bridge and road damage in the state of Oklahoma, not to mention the past bridges and roads that need to be repaired," said Rep. Mary Fallin, (R) Oklahoma.

At issue is the constantly strapped for cash Federal Highway Trust fund that pays for the road work. A jobs bill that passed a Republican filibuster Monday includes an infusion of $20 billion for the trust fund. If the bill passes, lawmakers say that's enough money to fund projects nationwide through December. 

But Fallin says $20 billion is merely filler for a system full of potholes.

"The challenge for governors with a month to month reauthorization is there's never any certainty about how much money the states have to spend," said Rep. Fallin.

A member of the Transportation Committee, Fallin wants to craft a bill that would secure long-term funding for the highway trust fund. She says road blocks like health care and cap and trade have pushed the issue to the back burner, but worries that the $11 billion in unfunded projects in Oklahoma could remain just that -- unfunded.

"It's a critical time for our state because our state has a budget shortfall. We're having to really tighten our belt. It's important to know how much money we're going to have to spend," said Rep. Fallin.

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports if federal funding dries up, the IDL project would not be affected because it is paid for with stimulus money. ODOT also reports that projects already underway would not be affected, but it would have a drastic effect on future projects.

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