GET THERE AND
BRING HELP.
WHAT HAPPENS?
THERE IS PROTECTION IN SOME
PLACES.
>> Devin: WE FOCUS ON ROAD RAGE,
BUT NOT AT EACH OTHER BUT
MICHIGAN'S ROADS THAT RANK AMONG
THE WORST IN THE COUNTRY.
>> Karen: THERE IS NO POTHOLE
SEASON, IT'S A YEAR-ROUND
SITUATION, KIND OF A CURSE.
TO FIND A SOLUTION, WE NEED TO
SORT OUT THE PROBLEM.
STEVE GARAGIOLA HAS DONE
RESEARCH TO HELP US UNDERSTAND
THE POTHOLES.
>> Steve: TO COPE WITH THE
TEETH-RATTLING POTHOLES, WE HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND THEM BECAUSE
THEY'RE NOT GOING AWAY ANYTIME
SOON.
WHAT MAKES THEM?
THEM?
ROADS?
MICHIGAN ROADS ARE BAD!
YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED.
ONLY 15% OF MICHIGAN ROADS RATE
GOOD CONDITION.
THE OTHER 85% ARE CRUMBLING AND
CRACKING, AND THAT'S WHERE THE
TROUBLE STARTS.
HOW DO THEY HAPPEN?
ASPHALT.
AND ROCKS.
UNDER THAT, DIRT.
NOW ADD RAIN THAT IN THE WINTER
FREEZES AND YOU GET CRACKS.
C'MON, LET'S GO FOR A DRIV
WATER IS THE KEY, FREEZING AND
MELTING AND THE ROAD SURFACE
BREAKS DOWN.
THIS IS FRANKLIN ROAD NEAR
TELEGRAPH IN OAKLAND COUNTY.
THE MORE IT CRACKS AND CRUMBLES,
THE MORE WATER GETS IN AND
CAUSES POTHOLES.
>> THE WATER SEEPS THROUGH A
STAYS UNDER THE PAVEMENT
SURFACE.
>> Steve: BUT IT FREEZES AND ICE
PAVEMENT.
THE WEIGHT OF VEHICLES PUSHES
DOWN AND YOU GET POTHOLES.
HOW DO THEY GET FIXED?
WHO IS IN CHARGE?
START WITH STATE ROADS.
>> ALL THE MI AND U.S. ROUTES.
>> Steve: 10, 24, AND I-96.
>> AND TWO THIRDS ARE CONTRACT
COUNTIES WHERE THE ROAD
ROADS.
>> Steve: THAT INCLUDES OAKLAND
COUNTY WHICH MAINTAINS ALL OF
THE COUNTY ROADS, RIGHT?
>> NO, WE MAINTAIN THE STATE
HIGHWAYS, AND THE 2600 MILES OF
COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION ROADS.
>> Steve: WHICH LEAVES ANOTHER
2600 MILES OF ROADWAY MAITAINED
BY CITY TOWNSHIPS EXCEPT
TOWNSHIPS.
>> Steve: EXCEPT BLOOMFIELD THAT
MAINTAINS ITS OWN TOWNSHIP.
>> THEY'RE ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST
COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE, AND SO
THEY'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE
REVENUE AND RESIDENTS WILLING TO
SERVICE.
>> Steve: SO WHAT'S THE BOTTOM
LINE ON JURISDICTION?
>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS, PEOPLE
DON'T CARE WHOSE ROAD IT IS,
THEY JUST WANT IT FIXED.
>> Steve: AND THE STATE AND
COUNTY ROAD DEPARTMENTS ARE
DOING A GOOD JOB.
THEY'RE JUST CRUMBLING FASTER
THAN THEY CAN REPAIR THEM.
RECONSTRUCTED.
WHEN WE DO IT, CONTRARY TO SOME
PUBLIC OPINION, THEY DO LAST.
WE ARE NOT REBUILDING THEM
ENOUGH.
>> Steve: OH, AND PUBLIC OPINION
DOESN'T RIDE ON THEIR SIDE ALL
THE TIME.
WE HAVE SEEN SOME MONSTER
POTHOLES OUT HERE.
TOMORROW, WE'LL LOOK AT THE
LARGER QUESTION, WHY DON'T WE
HAVE GREAT ROADS?
IS IT THE BIG HEAVY TRUCKS?
IS IT OUR HARSH MICHIGAN
WEATHER?
A LOT OF PEOPLE POINT TO GERMANY
AND THE AUTOBAHN.
THAT?
THERE'S A REASON, COMING UP AT
5:00 TOMORROW.
REPORTING LIVE, I'M STEVE
GARAGIOLA, LOCAL 4.
>> Devin: WE'RE UNDERSTANDING
OUR POTHOLES NOW BETTER.
BETTER.
AE.
WHEN YOU SEE A POTHOLE, LET US
KNOW, HEAD TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
CLICKONDETROIT.COM/POTHOLES.