Report: State facing $6B shortfall

JACKSON — A national transportation advocacy group says Mississippi will face a $6-billion highway funding shortfall in the next decade if Congress fails to adopt a new transportation plan.

TRIP, a national transportation research group, and lawmakers released the report yesterday at a news conference in Jackson.

The study says one-fifth of Mississippi’s major roads are deteriorated, one-quarter of the bridges are in need of repair and traffic congestion is on the rise.

The reports suggests Mississippi will need $12.5 billion from now until 2019 to keep up with its highway infrastructure needs.

The TRIP report says wear and tear on vehicles caused by neglected roadways cost each Mississippi motorist an average $394 annual operating costs.