Daily Journal
SEAN MURPHY Associated Press
First Posted: April 18, 2011 - 1:04 pm
Last Updated: April 18, 2011 - 7:00 pm
OKLAHOMA CITY — A decision five years ago by state lawmakers to increase state funding for Oklahoma's roads and bridges has helped the state improve road safety and reduce the number of structurally deficient bridges, according to a national report released Monday.
The report by Washington, D.C.-based The Road Information Program, or TRIP, shows Oklahoma has reduced the number of structurally deficient, state-maintained bridges by 32 percent — from 1,168 in 2005 to 797 in 2010. The nonprofit research group is funded by the transportation industry, including engineering and insurance companies, and road and bridge contractors.
"Oklahoma, in recent years, has made some significant progress in improving road and bridge conditions, largely as a result of legislative action, which in the last five years has seen an additional $700 million flow into the state's transportation system," said Frank Moretti, TRIP's director of policy and research, "and that legislative action over the next five years will bring approximately another $1 billion into the state's transportation system."
Oklahoma still ranks second in the nation, behind only Pennsylvania, in the number of bridges rated structurally deficient, but Moretti said Oklahoma's progress is remarkable... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Mon, April 18, 2011
by John Cox