Editor:

Philosophically, Gov. Dave Freudenthal is politically correct to say the federal government should be paying for the upkeep and upgrade of Interstate 80. But, sorry governor, it isn't going to happen. Making I-80, now a freight route, a toll road is the only realistic solutions to a horrendous problem.

Yes money is/was earmarked for maintaining the federal highway system. Unfortunately, during the previous administration that money was spent on the war while the nation's road deteriorated. Now, every bit of available money is being spent to bale our country out of the financial mess President Barack Obama inherited.

I-80 needs to be a three-lane highway built to withstand the daily pounding from thousands of semi-trucks. It also needs additional rest stops to handle that traffic and keep human waste from being tossed along the road side.

The federal government is not going to do this any time soon. So, do we live with a hazardous situation, or do we charge the users a toll to pay for this essential upgrade? I vote for a toll and commend the legislators who are addressing this problem. Please reconsider, governor. Users according to impact should play for this upgrade and a toll is the most logical way to do that.

BARBARA PARSONS, Rawlins