By Nate Jackson You’re not the only one who feels like they should be driving an ATV down parts of I-5 and other major roads.
In fact, one out of four roads in the greater Seattle area is in desperate need of repair. We are not even talking about new roads and ramps; we’re talking about maintaining the structures we already have.
Schools are overcrowded and it seems like our electrical grid sputters whenever a tree thinks about falling over. We have work that needs doing and the jobs that come with that work are essential if we want to pull this economy out of the ditch. We have a jobs crisis and we need to get people working again first. That’s why we are gathering on November 17th to stand up for good jobs. Our roads need work and so do we.
Investing in our communities’ infrastructure would be a boon to local workers who are having a terrible time finding gainful employment in this economy. We need those good jobs and we need the work done for everyone who relies on the infrastructure for their everyday needs.
We need to invest in our infrastructure and create good jobs. We need to get back to work.
The city of Seattle, according to Seattle Times columnist Susan Kelleher, is effectively ignoring many of the roads that need repair by having no plans to improve these roads in the foreseeable future. Daily commuters know where the particularly problematic potholes live and they swerve around. We need to fully invest in our vital infrastructure.
Cars, bicycles, and buses all need repaired roads in order to function. Fix our infrastructure, fix our economy.
The bottom line is that we should be taking the sad state of our infrastructure seriously. It is a fundamental problem in our economy that we are not working even when there is work that needs to be done. By investing in our infrastructure, we not only create jobs, but we make our neighborhoods and cities more attractive to businesses. Allowing our roads to be in disrepair is a sign to business that they should look elsewhere to set up shop.
We need efficient roads and bridges that are safe and stable. We can’t afford to fill in a few potholes and smear tar on a street and call it maintenance. We need to fully invest in our roads, bridges and other infrastructure, and OUR PEOPLE! Deciding to do the work that needs doing fixes both problems, so why aren't we doing it yet?