"The reality is our communities can't thrive and our businesses can't grow if they are saddled with potholes and unsafe bridges," said Brian Turmail, a spokesman for the two national groups sponsoring the effort, Americans for Transportation Mobility and the Transportation Construction Coalition. "The best route to a better transportation system for our country lies in getting Congress to do its job and pass the months-late highway and transit bill."

The last surface transportation authorization expired Sept. 30, 2009, and since then Congress has passed a series of short–term measures to ensure states continue to receive federal transportation funds. The latest extension expires at the end of this year. (see March 19 AASHTO Journal story) Turmail noted that these short-term "patches" fail to address shortfalls in federal highway funding caused by declining gas-tax receipts since Americans increasingly are driving more-fuel-efficient cars.

The industry's campaign will include billboard, radio, and newspaper advertisements in Rapid City as well as in Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. The groups said they will invest more than $100,000 in the effort nationwide over the next four weeks.