KOTA Territory NewsHighway group says Wyo. roads need $3.3 billion for repairs

Highway group says Wyo. roads need $3.3 billion for repairs

A predicted drop-off in tax revenue has a KOTA Territory state trimming its budget.

But now a national transportation group urges Wyoming to ramp up funding for roads to keep them in shape over the next decade.

Transportation research firm TRIP said this week the percentage of Wyoming roads in bad shape could almost double in the next ten years, from 20 percent now to 37 percent.

To prevent it, the group suggests legislators allocate $3.3 billion in the next decade to close a funding gap that's preventing improvements.

But some say those improvements might not be necessary.

"That's a real question for the traveling public to answer," said Wyoming Department of Transportation district engineer Mark Gillett. "If they're happy with the way roads are today or deteriorating with time, then so be it."

But if not, he said the state or federal government will have to step up with funding.