60-1-101. Legislative findings. The legislature recognizes that safe and efficient highway transportation is of important interest to all of the people of the state and declares that:

(1) inadequate highways, roads, and streets obstruct the free flow of traffic, increase costs of motor vehicle operation, endanger the health and safety of the citizens of the state, depreciate property values, and impede generally the economic progress of the state;

(2) the problems of establishing and maintaining adequate highways, roads, and streets, eliminating congestion, reducing accident frequency, providing parking facilities, and taking all necessary steps to insure safe and convenient transportation are urgent;

(3) adequate and integrated systems of highways, roads, and streets are essential to the general welfare of the state;

(4) providing adequate highway facilities is a proper public use and purpose, and this title is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, for the promotion of the general welfare, and as a contribution to the national defense.