ST. GEORGE, LA – A St. George resident who asked us to refer to her as only Stephanie G. is calling on DOTD officials to take immediate action after claiming the worsening condition of Airline Highway has severely disrupted her ability to multitask behind the wheel.
According to Stephanie, what was once a manageable morning routine has become nearly impossible due to the growing number of potholes, uneven pavement, and surprise bumps scattered along her daily commute into the office.
“I was already juggling a Starbucks latte, touching up my makeup, texting my friends about lunch, and keeping up with my Facebook fashion groups,” said Stephanie. “Now every time I hit a pothole, I lose my place in the comments section.”
Stephanie says the situation reached a breaking point Tuesday morning when a pothole launched her phone into the passenger seat, forcing her to spend nearly four full seconds looking at the road before recovering it.
“It was terrifying,” she recalled. “I hadn’t looked at the road that long in years.”
Transportation officials confirmed they have received several complaints regarding Airline Highway, though most usually involve damaged tires, bent rims, or vehicle suspensions rather than interrupted social media activity.
Still, Stephanie insists the issue deserves attention.
“Last week I accidentally liked a picture from 2018 because of a pothole,” she said. “Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is? I was like OMG how do I unlike a picture!”
Traffic experts say rough road conditions may inadvertently be improving safety by forcing motorists to focus on driving. However, many commuters remain unconvinced.
State officials said the Airline Highway improvement project in St. George is entering its fourth year of design, meaning it is likely only six short years away from commencement. They also warned that restoring a smooth driving surface could lead to a significant increase in distracted driving throughout the corridor.
