Letters: SC highways are an embarrassment

I recently attended a conference in Tampa along with people from 12 other states; most had driven there through South Carolina.

Throughout the week, I heard all kinds of uncomfortable remarks about the interstates in South Carolina. People could not believe the conditions of our highways. When they learned that I was from South Carolina, they asked why the interstates north and south of South Carolina are six to eight lanes; they called South Carolina the hourglass of the South — the small part of the hourglass.

This state boasts about the growth of industry and new people coming to live here. There are several ways to generate the money needed to improve the roads. One is good for the health of everybody: Raise the cigarette tax. Another is to raise the gas tax; not very popular. Another, why not charge a sales tax rather than a flat $300 tax on our cars?

Roads have not kept up. Our elected officials should be ashamed and embarrassed. Let’s put a greater emphasis on upgrading our highways.

This story was originally published June 27, 2016 at 9:15 AM with the headline "Letters: SC highways are an embarrassment."