Marsha Sharp Freeway Seeks Funding for Final Phases - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

Construction of the Marsha Sharp Freeway continues to move along, but there is one potential snag along the way. Actually, it could be a big snag. TxDOT needs $100 million to finish the final phases.

Phase one is rapidly coming to an end and phase two is expected to begin construction this Spring. Both phases already have their funding of about $200 million, but it's the last two phases that need funding. Penny Mason with TxDOT says, "We don't stop planning because we don't have money."

TxDOT and the Metropolitan Planning Organization are racing against the clock to find $100 million to finish the Marsha Sharp Freeway. Steve Warren, TxDOT Planning Director, says, "We will use the tools the legislature made available to us. We need to improve traffic, or it's gonna get worse."

Get More About Marsha Sharp Freeway & Other TxDot Projects Find out the status of TxDot construction projects in the South Plains area.

Here are some options TxDOT is looking at to find funding:

• First, the U.S. Congress could pass a transportation bill that would throw back more money to our current projects.
• Second, a less efficient idea, would be to raise the gas tax.
• The third possibility could be to charge a toll.

Although the funds are not locked down yet, TxDOT says the freeway construction is long over-due, and tax payers shouldn't worry that the road will go unfinished.