State House GOP touts $200 million bond issue for bridge repair

Thursday, April 8th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- With nearly one-quarter of Oklahoma's bridges in need of repair or replacement, House Republicans on Thursday proposed a $200 million bond issue to begin restoration.

During a news conference at the state Capitol, several House GOP leaders announced the plan that would allow repairs to begin as early as this summer on the top 100 bridges in most critical need of maintenance.

"Deteriorating bridges not only pose a safety concern for motorists, but also restrict commerce as trucks are unable to cross broken-down bridges," said Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore. "We owe it to the people of Oklahoma to provide them with a safe transportation infrastructure."

The GOP proposes $200 million in general obligation bonds, which would require the Legislature to pay the debt service over the next 10 to 15 years with general revenue. Jones said annual payments would be $23.5 million over 10 years or $17.5 million over 15 years.

"They would be repaid similar to what we did with the highway construction in 2000 and 1998, and that is with the intent of the Legislature to pay off those bonds in the future," Jones said.

Paul Sund, a spokesman for Gov. Brad Henry, said improving the state's roads and bridges was a top priority, but the governor was hesitant to endorse a proposal to use general revenue monies because that "would take money from such critical areas as education, health care and public safety" the main beneficiaries of general revenue funds.

"Furthermore, the state is already using general revenue funds to pay off highway debt from the 1998 and 2000 road-building initiatives," Sund said.

Although lawmakers are considering a proposal to have state voters decide whether to increase the motor fuel tax to help fund transportation needs, Jones said passage is unlikely given the high cost of gasoline.

"Personally, I would rather see the Legislature solve the problem before we ask the taxpayer to take money out of their pocket," Jones said. "We are saying the legislators should make a priority for the bridges that are in terrible shape."

According to the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, 1,116 of the state's 6,728 bridges are structurally deficient. Another 481 bridges are considered functionally obsolete.