Potholes: Jackson needs $70M to get roads up to par

The Clarion-Ledger, 8/18/8

Talk about potholes and deteriorating streets long has been ubiquitous throughout the city of Jackson. Now, Jackson City Council members say repairing the city’s infrastructure will be a top budget priority for the next fiscal year. Some have even suggested a bond referendum.

But the task is daunting: The city estimates it needs almost $70 million to get roads up to par and another $10.1 million annually for ongoing maintenance.

“I’ve been working real hard to get streets at the forefront,” said Thelman Boyd, director of the Department of Public Works.

“I want people to realize how important the infrastructure is to safety and to economic development.”