Most Greenwood motorists, like those all over South Carolina, would be hard-pressed to find the extra money needed just to keep up. Hodges opposed the increase when the Department of Transportation considered it to help finance road upkeep and repair. There s no question about the condition of the state s roads. Potholes and crumbling concrete and asphalt are evident all over. They make for some uncomfortable rides sometimes.
Safety is also an issue, the department says.
A big issue. Then there s the matter of maintenance of the roadsides, not to mention other routine costs that are also contributing to what the department calls a crisis point. In many areas of the state, road maintenance is done only on an emergency basis, department officials say. Hodges says gasoline prices are already too high and for that reason he could not support a tax increase. There s no doubt that funds are needed to do what the Transportation Department is expected to do.