Travel group urges legislative action in Oklahoma

The Associated Press

2/25/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY — A spokesman for the state's largest travel association says a safety crisis exists because of deteriorating roads and bridges in Oklahoma.

Triple-A spokesman Chuck Mai held a news conference at the Capitol on Monday to push for more funding for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Mai said failure of lawmakers to keep their commitment on highway spending will lead to the loss of $127 million in scheduled repair and construction projects.

Mai said Interstate 40 in downtown Oklahoma City and Interstate 244 in Tulsa have bridges with structural ratings worse than the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota.

He supports diverting a portion of vehicle tag fee money to roads and bridges.