PORTLAND, Maine - Poor roads and bridges are costing Mainers more than $1 billion a year. That's the estimate from a national research group called "TRIP."
A $100 million bond issue on next month's ballot is a "step in the right direction," according to spokesman Rocky Moretti, but he says it won't solve all problems.
"Many of the roads and bridges are maintained by local governments. That challenge remains," Moretti says. "And, looking into the future, we've seen that vehicle travel - which for a number of years in Maine had not increased - jumped significantly in 2016. And that's consistent with what we're seeing across the country."
Moretti says the cost is in extra maintenance from cars damaged by rough roads and time lost to traffic congestion in places like greater Portland.
