Letters: Fixing our roads a never-ending task

The overused phrase “our crumbling roads” conjures the image of potholes, cracks and deteriorating shoulders. But that understates the magnitude of the problem.

Those are significant, but so are the failing roadbeds. Aged bridges are in disrepair and in jeopardy of collapse. Hundreds of miles of dirt roads need to be paved to provide better access to rural areas.

Population and commercial growth mean many roads need to be widened to accommodate traffic growth. Intersections need to be updated and, in many cases, redesigned, and new ones must be constructed. Land must be acquired and utility lines and pipes expanded, redirected and updated and new ones installed.

Then there will be materials, equipment, labor hours, legal expenses and other logistical costs, most of which cannot be accurately anticipated (aka “cost overruns”).

It gets worse. Conservatively guessing, it would take 20 years to get the roadways repaired. And at the end of those 20 years, we’ll have to start all over again. The roads, bridges, new pavement and roadbeds that were the first on the list will be ready for their next repairs.

This is why a gas tax is the only true and fiscally effective way to fund current and projected road needs.

This story was originally published May 9, 2017 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Letters: Fixing our roads a never-ending task."