Solving Michigan's decrepit roads by going back to gravel?
The usual line from a preacher at a burial is "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust". Well something along those lines may soon be happening to some roads in Michigan. After my recent treatise on the process for (de)constructing roads in the Great Lakes state, an article turned up in the Lansing State Journal indicating that some county officials are contemplating an alternative to repaving decaying thoroughfares. With a complete repaving costing $100,000 per mile and repeated patching potentially costing even more over time, Clinton County is considering grinding up at least one road and returning it to gravel. With the state of Michigan suffering perennial budget shortfalls and everything already pared to the bone, this may be the only financially viable option for some counties and municipalities. The gravel option is considered only a temporary fix until the financial situation in the state improves. However, there are currently no indications that will happen anytime soon. If they do start grinding up some roads, hopefully they will at least grade them periodically, in which case they may be smoother than they are now.
[Source: Lansing State Journal]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
David W. 10:39AM (3/26/2008)
For lower trafficked roads I see absolutely no problem with this, though gravel roads do require some amount of maintenance as well.
If they spent a little more building the roads in the first place they would hold up better, but I guess it's beyond that point now.
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Derek 11:52AM (3/26/2008)
don't say that untill you have seen/driven on a gravel or dirt road in this state. The potholes I have seen on unpaved roads put the ones in the pavement to shame. I seriously had a hard time even driving 20mph down a handfull of different roads like this. It was like some kind of sick slalom course where you just pick the path that will batter your suspension the least.
Randy 1:29PM (3/26/2008)
But the difference between asphalt repair and gravel repair is basically 50 Tons of Equipment and 15 people and police details versus a guy in an F-350 with a hydraulic roller on the front to pack gravel.
I think if ANY road is not a throughway / high traffic road it should be gravel. Really. Why does a side street with houses on it need to have a paved road! They far outnumber the feet of highways and such....
David W. 4:06PM (3/26/2008)
@Derek
I've driven sedans, coupes, suv's, and trucks on gravel, it's not too bad.
Randy said it just right, both have problems, but repairing a paved road requires specialized equipment, gravel on the other hand can be repaired by just about anyone, haha
R W Scott 10:22AM (3/27/2008)
After living in NW Michigan (Traverse City area) for 30+ years and living in the country, gravel roads are the norm for many...the road commissions in most counties do a respectable job of maintaining them...Kalkaska county is a BIG exception. Snow removal is a major function of the commissions and virtually all areas in the snow belt have tandem plow trucks with an under-body plow that very effectively keeps the roads scraped clean in the winter and are equally effective in the summer months for gravel/secondary gravel road maintenance...they are almost as effective as a motor grader and can work at 20+ mph instead of 5 mph in a grader...plowing a gravel road is not an issue after the road bed freezes and car traffic really pushes the frost down deep in the road bed. I will admit that during spring thaw the roads do get a bit poopy and the gravel is blended with clay to allow for effective compaction...if you like to wash your car, you are in pig-heaven.
BLS 10:41AM (3/26/2008)
I though Pennsylvania roads were bad, then I went to the Detroit Auto Show. I don't think my car will forgive me for that one anytime soon.
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Guenther 11:05AM (3/26/2008)
you guys have really nice roads in PA compared to what we drive on up here. Part of it is our high load limit for trucks, but more so the horrendous amount of salt used, combined with suspect construction materials/practices. the mayor isn't the only thing crooked in Detroit. As much as I want to switch into a car, the prospect of dealing with bent wheels, bruised tires and chassis alignment just sours it for me.
Steve_S 11:23AM (3/26/2008)
Roads must really be bad, we make fun of how bad the roads in PA are compared to MD.
Thats going to be hell on a paint job though.
Alex 10:49AM (3/26/2008)
I like driving down gravel roads actually, if it means money can be saved or spent in more important areas I don't think this is a bad idea at all.
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Chris 10:52AM (3/26/2008)
Like that will happen.
If you truly believe that Alex I have some prime swamp land in Florida for you to buy
Alex Hobbs 11:06AM (3/26/2008)
Geeze! I'm trying to encouraging some out of the box thinking here. Too many negative people on this blog sometimes, loosen up!
Rocketboy 2:46PM (3/26/2008)
Then get back into the box where ya belong! :)
Gravel roads should only be for light seasonal use only. It's insane that anyone would suggest this for a winter road. After the first plow, it would be nothing but a dirt road. In NY where I live, it's bad enough when they oil and stone a road, but I could not imagine turning it into stone.
Whiplash 10:53AM (3/26/2008)
I think it's rediculous. Infrastructure should be local government's very first priority.
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Zeus.:God 11:02AM (3/26/2008)
I think you're ridiculous.
Whiplash 11:09AM (3/26/2008)
Cool. Thanks for that thoughtful rebuttal.
L.Wood 11:50AM (3/26/2008)
Whiplash, I am with you on this one. Our elected government officials and their unelected bureaucratic morons are pissing away millions of dollars on projects that have nothing to do with their mandates. Roads are of paramount importantance and must be maintained. Going back to gravel is a joke. Michiganders need to quit electing liberal morons or the state is doomed.
Whiplash 11:56AM (3/26/2008)
My point exactly. To me, infrastructure is the foundation of everything else that takes place in a city/state. Transportation, Power, Water, Communications. These things are to a modern society as food and water are to the human body, so in my opinion an acceptable baseline should be achieved before the government spends a dime on ANYTHING else.
JimSeattle 7:57AM (3/27/2008)
It would be a blessing in disguise. The more gravel roads the better, all across the US. They slow you down to more normal speeds and that could easily be a 10 -15% reduction in fuel usage until we develop hydrogen fueled cars. Then buld em out of concrete and go like hell again. But, be able to afford it.
bridgedpn1 10:00AM (3/27/2008)
Like, it has happened!
There are already hundreds of rural roads and miles and miles of gravel between towns and interstates around Detroit, Ann Arbor, etc. It sure does slow down traffic on those roads, however; it isn't good on your car. Trust me. Been there, done that. I'm from Pa. and I thought our roads were bad. Our roads are a treat compared to Michigans roads.
f3rg 10:55AM (3/26/2008)
If you don't mind the paint chips, driving on gravel can actually be fun, 'specially around the corners.
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