Gubernatorial Candidates At Odds on How to Fix Roads

Candidate for South Carolina governor Vincent Sheheen is blaming a lack of leadership for an Upstate bridge collapse over the weekend.  It happened Saturday night along Memorial Drive Extension.  Four people were hurt after their cars fell into the hole formed after the collapse.

Sheheen said it never should have happened.

“We have to realize that if we had roads and bridges that were up to standard we could avoid these tragic things from happening.  No bridge in South Carolina should ever collapse,” said Sheheen.

Sheheen said infrastructure in the state is embarrassing and a lack of attention is to blame.

“Governor Haley has unfortunately done nothing to rebuild the roads and bridges in this state,” said Sheheen.

Sheheen said he wants money for crumbling roads to come from the state budget and not state tax dollars.

Governor Nikki Haley said he's got the right idea, one she said she had first. 

In a statement to News Four she said in part, “I have long advocated using revenue we already have coming into Columbia on core functions of government, rather than raising taxes on our families and businesses. Just last year, our businesses hailed the long overdue billion-dollar investment we made in strengthening our state's infrastructure without raising taxes,” said Haley.

Candidate Tom Ervin said both Haley and Sheheen are wrong.

“It's unrealistic quite honestly,” said Ervin.

He said it's been 25 years since the gas tax has been raised, and it may be time to revisit it.

“As much as I hate raising taxes, it may be the only way that we can fix this problem,” said Ervin.

When people cast their ballots for governor in November, those in Greenville County will get the chance to vote on a penny sales tax hike.