Let's talk about how the roads around here are PISS POOR, and an embarassment.

[brizee]

It's not a new problem but it's still shocking just unacceptable it is.

For as car dependent as this state is, how are the roads SOOOOO shitty?

I'd like to call out a couple in particular.

Woodward south of Grand Boulevard. It looks like a giant shotgun [[both shot and slug) went to work on it. Good job MDOT you should be proud.

Greenfield north of 8 Mile. Holy shit. Literally. Cedar Point has rides less bumpy than what I endured last night. I don't think you could go 10 feet head on or to the side without hitting a giant suspension ruining, tire busting hole. I'm pretty sure I saw a piece of wire frame sticking up out of one particular hole.

-The most nonexistant public transportation in the country.
-The highest auto insurance in the country.
-The [[has to be) worst maintained roads in the country.

We're past Michissippi, with recent politics we're Arizona with shittier winters.

[Kevgoblue]

I rode that stretch of Greenfield a couple days ago. You are not exaggerating at all. Worst mile of road I can remember driving over in long time. I think I've got a loose filling.

[stasu1213]

I was told by Planner that the State is responsible for Woodward. Woodward is in the poorest condition it ever been in since the first concrete was laid on it more than 100 years ago. Repaving was done on Woodward between Boston Edison and Highland Park border. The project was halted after never to go south of Grand Blvd. The lame excuse is that work on Woodward will proceed once tracks are being laid for the lightrail. Tthat might take forever. Snyder has the nerve to boast about a surplus while he wasted thousands on a stupid superbowl commercial.. Just repave Woodward saving tje far right lane. That lane and sidewalk would be reconstructed for the light rail. Go figure

[Khorasaurus]

I was told by Planner that the State is responsible for Woodward. Woodward is in the poorest condition it ever been in since the first concrete was laid on it more than 100 years ago. Repaving was done on Woodward between Boston Edison and Highland Park border. The project was halted after never to go south of Grand Blvd. The lame excuse is that work on Woodward will proceed once tracks are being laid for the lightrail. Tthat might take forever. Snyder has the nerve to boast about a surplus while he wasted thousands on a stupid superbowl commercial.. Just repave Woodward saving tje far right lane. That lane and sidewalk would be reconstructed for the light rail. Go figure

The rail on Woodward isn't going to be "forever." It's funded, under construction now and will be finished in 2016. And Woodward will be repaved as part of that. Now, I agree that we've waited too long to have it re-done, because the streetcar/light rail has been delayed several times. But construction has started, so it is only a matter of time at this point.

Also, Snyder's commercial wasn't paid for by public funds...

Generally, the reason we have crappy roads isn't politics - it's the weather. The amount of snow and ice we get, coupled with the freeze-thaw cycle, creates pockets of water underneath the pavement that undermine the road and create potholes and un-even-ness. And we can't permanently fix anything until the temperature is consistently above freezing.

[Detroitnerd]

Generally, the reason we have crappy roads isn't politics - it's the weather.

I would like to call at least a small amount of BS on that. Hamtramck urged the county for YEARS to repave Conant, which is a county road. They finally did it ... and stopped right at Hamtramck City Limits. That's right, they resurface the road and totally ignored the sections of road within the dense urban area. I mean, WTF?

[RO_Resident]

I would like to call at least a small amount of BS on that. Hamtramck urged the county for YEARS to repave Conant, which is a county road. They finally did it ... and stopped right at Hamtramck City Limits. That's right, they resurface the road and totally ignored the sections of road within the dense urban area. I mean, WTF?

Conant is owned by Detroit outside of Hamtramck. It's up to Detroit to fix the other portions of the road.

[ABetterDetroit]

The amount of snow and ice we get, coupled with the freeze-thaw cycle, creates pockets of water underneath the pavement that undermine the road and create potholes and un-even-ness. And we can't permanently fix anything until the temperature is consistently above freezing.

This is the piss poor excuse that they have been feeding us for decades for not getting the job done. Do not believe it any more please. If you need proof all you need to do is get in your car and drive to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Indiana or Illinois ANY of those states has way better roads than Michigan with similar weather patterns. I few of them have damn good roads in fact.

The fact is for a long time they have been not a priority of state gov. when businesses that operate out of the back of a truck [[movies), windmills, tax cuts, or whatever "pet idea" of the year is their priority.

Good roads are as simple as high quality engineering, quality inspection during the construction process, accountable contractors, quality materials and honesty in all of the previously stated. And of course adequate funding to get the job done. We have kicked the road can down the road for decades and now and the can fell in a deep hole so the bullshit excuses keep coming and now people believe them.

[Don K]

Generally, the reason we have crappy roads isn't politics - it's the weather. The amount of snow and ice we get, coupled with the freeze-thaw cycle, creates pockets of water underneath the pavement that undermine the road and create potholes and un-even-ness. And we can't permanently fix anything until the temperature is consistently above freezing.

Of course it's politics. We're not the only state with winter weather, you know.That's an excuse MDOT has been using ever since I moved here in 78. The problem is a bunch of pols in Lansing who are terrified of/ideologically opposed to adding a dime to the gas tax to get more money for the roads. Listen up, folks, you're not saving money if you save $60/year in gas tax but get a bent rim, ruined tire, or broken suspension bits in return.

[ABetterDetroit]

Of course it's politics. We're not the only state with winter weather, you know.That's an excuse MDOT has been using ever since I moved here in 78. The problem is a bunch of pols in Lansing who are terrified of/ideologically opposed to adding a dime to the gas tax to get more money for the roads. Listen up, folks, you're not saving money if you save $60/year in gas tax but get a bent rim, ruined tire, or broken suspension bits in return.

Here, here if you don't believe it take a drive in Wisconsin. It's night and day difference in pavement quality not so much in weather.

[Wesley Mouch]

Of course it's politics. We're not the only state with winter weather, you know.That's an excuse MDOT has been using ever since I moved here in 78. The problem is a bunch of pols in Lansing who are terrified of/ideologically opposed to adding a dime to the gas tax to get more money for the roads. Listen up, folks, you're not saving money if you save $60/year in gas tax but get a bent rim, ruined tire, or broken suspension bits in return.

Apparently, their terror subsided and turned them into Democrats.

[bailey]

Apparently, their terror subsided and turned them into Democrats.

or they knew that in order to have things like decent roads, we need to have some revenue to pay for them... and they knew they'd need to lie to their base about where and how that revenue would be generated because their crazy far right nutjob base can't seem to fathom how society and public infrastructure works.

Not exactly a profile in courage by Rs but at least they've decided to govern [[even if they have to lie to their voters for their own good).

[night-timer]

I was told by Planner that the State is responsible for Woodward. Woodward is in the poorest condition it ever been in since the first concrete was laid on it more than 100 years ago. Repaving was done on Woodward between Boston Edison and Highland Park border. The project was halted after never to go south of Grand Blvd. The lame excuse is that work on Woodward will proceed once tracks are being laid for the lightrail. Tthat might take forever. Snyder has the nerve to boast about a surplus while he wasted thousands on a stupid superbowl commercial.. Just repave Woodward saving tje far right lane. That lane and sidewalk would be reconstructed for the light rail. Go figure

I only rides bikes, so I know what a bumpy ride is. I agree that Woodward south of Grand Blvd is bad. Pot-holes on a bike are a disaster waiting to happen. Even Michigan Avenue near the old Tigers stadium [[heading up to Corktown) is bad in parts. There is in fact quite a bit of roadwork being done on Woodward. I see signs of progress, but it will take time. Looking at its condition, Woodward has plainly carried a big traffic burden over the years! It's a crucial thoroughfare for the city of Detroit.

[Detroitnerd]

This was the subject of a recent editorial...

http://metrotimes.com/news/politics-...nity-1.1629248

[GP For Life]

This was the subject of a recent editorial...

http://metrotimes.com/news/politics-...nity-1.1629248

We just need to reallocate the tax revenue from social programs to roads. Roads benefit everyone, whereas social programs only benefit some.

[Detroitnerd]

We just need to reallocate the tax revenue from social programs to roads. Roads benefit everyone, whereas social programs only benefit some.

Yes, but some roads don't benefit me. I want only the roads that benefit me directly to be funded. Then the roads that ARE funded will be paved with gold.

[GP For Life]

Yes, but some roads don't benefit me. I want only the roads that benefit me directly to be funded. Then the roads that ARE funded will be paved with gold.

I mean, we all benefit from the roads through economic activity and the goods and services they transport. That said, the roads we use most often should be paved with gold and broken dreams of the proletariat.

[Detroitnerd]

I mean, we all benefit from the roads through economic activity and the goods and services they transport. That said, the roads we use most often should be paved with gold and broken dreams of the proletariat.

Except when the starving proletariat break down your door, rape your sister, and string you up by your basketball hoop in front of the garage. Perhaps during your last moments alive, you may realize you should have funded social programs a bit more. No worries. Happened to Louis XVI, so you'd be in good company.

[downtownguy]

We just need to reallocate the tax revenue from social programs to roads. Roads benefit everyone, whereas social programs only benefit some.

Wow.

Keep that up and you're going to create a stereotype here that all GP'ers think like you.

[Bham1982]

Wow.

Keep that up and you're going to create a stereotype here that all GP'ers think like you.

His comment was factual, and not really political. Who doesn't directly benefit from road maintenance? In contrast, plenty of people derive no benefit from certain social programs.

[GP For Life]

His comment was factual, and not really political. Who doesn't directly benefit from road maintenance? In contrast, plenty of people derive no benefit from certain social programs.

Here's what gets me. We've paid for years and years for roads and the roads have always been crappy because the money has been diverted for other things, or just not budgeted correctly. Now, peoples' solution is "just give us more money, then we'll fix your roads".

Well, I don't buy that. How about we reallocate resources from luxuries [[like welfare programs) to pay for our roads?

How about we take care of two problems at once?

Everyone thinks the answer is just spend more money. F-that.

[rb336]

The biggest issue isn't the salt, the maintenance or the freeze-thaw cycle. The biggest issue is a lack of willingness by Lansing and Michiganders to pay for the roads to be constructed properly in the first place

[ABetterDetroit]

For as car dependent as this state is, how are the roads SOOOOO shitty?

Absolute garbage roads

I just came back from a few days in Wisconsin last month, their roads are like airport runways compared to here.
You realize how crappy ALL of our roads are before you are a half mile out of DTWs parking deck.

[313WX]

The piss poor road maintenance is nothing compared to this gem I just read in the newspaper...

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140207/METRO05/302070088/Wiping-out-snowy-Michigan-road-could-get-you-90-ticket

Wiping out on a snowy Michigan road could get you $90 ticket

[brizee]

The piss poor road maintenance is nothing compared to this gem I just read in the newspaper...

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140207/METRO05/302070088/Wiping-out-snowy-Michigan-road-could-get-you-90-ticket

Wiping out on a snowy Michigan road could get you $90 ticket

I can believe it.

4 years ago during a rainy day on 96 I hit a puddle, lost control and almost hit a police car but instead hit the median. I got a ticket for "too fast for conditions". I was able to convince the Livonia judge to change it to a fine but no points.

But it was rainy and slick as shit, there were several accidents already, and the police car was in fact stopped in the left lane already tending to ANOTHER accident, on a sever curved portion of westbound 96. I still got hit with a two point ticket.

If you’re driving down the freeway and you go through a certain spot just fine, but I wipe out and lose control, then I violated basic speed law,” Shaw said. “Probably 1,000 other cars were able to go onto that exit with no problem, but she wiped out, so she’s in violation. You can’t blame the snow bank.”

Still makes no fucking sense to me, but it's the police WTF you gonna do?

[poobert]

Hey, where are all the sprawl-lovers?

Our state population is lower than it was 14 years ago but how much you want to bet we have a fuck-ton more roads that we obviously don't need?