There always seems to be money for the welfare programs and pet projects but never enough money for routine road maintenance. High traffic roads need to be ground and repaved every 2 to 3 years.3.5 million $$ here, 10 Million $$ there......
Won't make any difference. Doing a modern highway correctly costs close to 1 Million $$ a mile or more per 2 lane. Grading, crowning, proper sub-base, surface, etc. Even done 100% new, and done 100% correctly, it will last and stay in good condition for maybe 2 years. Desert sun, heat, traffic, weight, earth movement, etc. takes its toll. (pun intended) The damn road is built on top of sugar sand for Christ's sake.
It would take a minimum 200-300 Million $$ to bring the 80 mile, 177/62 road from DC to Parker to even minimum standards for a major thoroughfare, including shoulders, passing lanes, sight alignment, straightening, dip removal, etc.
And then it would have to be done all over again in 3-5 years.