At least 10 funding bills now linger in the state House and Senate in addition to Holden's plan, and many of them would generate hundreds of millions in revenue through tax and fee increases. But the plan does not mention funding for specific projects beyond a handful of broad allocations. It might still look nice on the outside, but it's wearing out. A MoDOT public affairs director, Bob Brendle, agreed that I-70 deserves immediate attention. All you have to do is drive it and see stretches that are deteriorating.
Statistics show room Missouri has plenty of room for improvement.
Missouri ranks 49th out of 50 states in quality of roads, according to a study released by the Road Information Program last week. In revenue received per mile, Missouri ranked 46th in 1998. Illinois, comparatively, spent more than five times per mile of road than Missouri that year, according to department information. Missouri's 32,000 miles of highway rank seventh in the United States, while Holden said at least 5,000 of those miles are in disrepair. The time is now, the governor said.