Neal McCaleb points to dangerous road conditions

Thursday, June 30th 2005, 6:48 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Supporters of a tax increase on gas and diesel commemorated the 49th anniversary of the creation of the interstate system by pointing to what they say are dangerous conditions on Interstate 35.

Former state highway official Neal McCaleb Wednesday pointed to corrosion of a bridge over Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City as an example of the danger. McCaleb says the bridge isn't in danger of collapsing, but people driving under it face the possibility of being hit by falling concrete.

A chunk of concrete fell from a bridge over I-35 south of Oklahoma City last year and hit and killed a Texas woman as she drove under the bridge.

McCaleb chairs the group Oklahomans for Safe Roads and Bridges which supports raising the tax on gas by five cents and the tax on diesel by eight cents. He says the tax increase would raise about $150-million a year for road and bridge repair.

I-35 and I-40 are part of an interstate system built after President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act on June 29th, 1956.