Oklahoma Highways Under Question

A four foot hole formed on interstate 40 near Sallisaw Tuesday. The Department of Transportation fixed it, but the hole caused some raised eyebrows. The DOT says it needs money to fix Oklahomas highways, but some drivers say the DOT should have plenty of money from tolls and taxes. In 2002 a five hundred foot section of an I-40 bridge collapsed after a barge hit one of the supports. Tuesday, a big hole formed less than twenty-five miles away. Some people who frequent this interstate have some rough words for the rough interstate. Shirley Markham, who works at Charlies Chicken right off of I-40, says "Theyre terrible, Im nearly ashamed of the people who visit Oklahoma on our roads, theyre that bad." Shelby Bright, a truck driver, explains, "I ride the left lane, its rough enough, but the right lane has chug holes and it will just flat beat you to death." Why are Oklahomas roads so bumby? The DOT says its bad weather and a lack of funding. A DOT Maintenence Engineer says, "I think theres a need for improvement, but at the same time, Im not sure theyve ever been in better shape." In 2006, Oklahoma added two billion dollars to state road funding for the next ten years. Thats why some argue the DOT shouldnt be short on cash. Bright explains, "You know we pay fuel taxes, and I dont know what theyre doing with the money to keep the roads up because there so terrible." Many drivers also wonder where the money they pay to drive on toll roads goes. Another accident happened on I-40 near Sallisaw on Thursday, which closed a lane down for hours. A tanker overtuned spilling hot oil onto the road. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says no-one was hurt, and the tanker was the only vehicle involved in the accident.