There's no reason we're not getting our fair share of highway funds. US 43 to the state line should have been the first road built 15 years ago. Hwy 72 to Athens and a bypass to the interstate is long, long overdue.
You mean expanding 72 with an extra lane or two through Rogersville didn't do it for ya?
Of course not. In the process, they lowered the speed limit to 45 MPH just about all the way out to Elk River while the road work was being done, and never bothered raising it back. I doubt that's due to lack of state funds.
On the other hand, when the state gives money to make travel through an area easier/faster, and it just gets used to make yet another speed trap/stop light, I doubt people will be much inclined to give the same community even more money in the future. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."