Tuesday, August 20, 1996

Survey shows many Texans roads in terrible shape

By Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) - If you're planning a Labor Day weekend car trip, check with the Texas Department of Transportation before plotting your route.

A recent study by the agency shows that more than 14 percent of state roads are in "very poor to fair" condition and 29 percent of all Texas bridges are "structurally or functionally deficient."

"We are in terrible shape," former Federal Highway Administration head Ray Barnhart told The Dallas Morning News. "I can hardly discuss the subject without using vulgar words."

The best place to drive, on average, is Southwest Texas.

The worst? Beware East Texas and the Panhandle, although weather and soil conditions - as well as traffic - also play a role.

This isn't a Texas phenomenon. Across the country, many of the roads built after World War II are cracking and crumbling. Patchwork that cosmetically healed some woes of the '70s and early '80s are giving way again.

"In the last two years deterioration is increasing," said Frank Moretti, director of research for the Road Information Program. "We have a highway and bridge system that is aging."

Overall, Texas highways are still above average, said Kenneth Fults, director of pavement for the Texas Department of Transportation.

But, remember, Texas has the largest paved system in the country: 77,000 miles of interstate highways, U.S. highways, state highways, farm-to-market roads and business routes.

Fults estimates maintaining the current pavement condition of Texas roads would cost $600 million. Improving it would make another $800 million, he says. Others have even higher estimates.

This year, the Department of Transportation has only enough money budgeted to meet 40 percent of the entire system's needs.

While the roads may be ugly and may cause a bit more wear on tires, they're not necessarily dangerous.

"I don't think it is a crisis," Fults said. "It is a problem."

Still, it is a source of concern for those in charge of making sure it doesn't become a problem.

"It's not a safety issue now," said Mary Lou Ralls, bridge design engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation. "What we're looking at is the future because it is alarming. There's no doubt it is alarming."