Rural Michigan Counties Turn Failing Roads to Gravel

[peaceandlove]

This may be a sign of things to come, including less jobs for those in road repair. Except the automotive repair industry will get a little boost for the added wear and tear on the vehicles.


Rural Michigan Counties Turn Failing Roads to Gravel

June 12, 2009 - 4:43 PM
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Some Michigan counties have turned a few once-paved rural roads back to gravel to save money.

More than 20 of the state's 83 counties have reverted deteriorating paved roads to gravel in the last few years, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. The counties are struggling with their budgets because tax revenues have declined in the lingering recession.

Montcalm County converted nearly 10 miles of primary road to gravel this spring.

The county estimates it takes about $10,000 to grind up a mile of pavement and put down gravel. It takes more than $100,000 to repave a mile of road.

Reverting to gravel has happened in a few other states but it is most typical in Michigan. At least 50 miles have been reverted in the state in the past three years.

Article: http://www.wwmt.com/articles/roads-1...-counties.html

SOURCE: http://solari.com/blog/

[pyrangello]

This is an area like many around the country hard hit by having just a few businesses close that impact an entire area. There are still some businesses going good here in the state but overall the unemployment is running anywheres from 13% to 30% . Lot of people leaving the state. If you want to look at whats happening with our country then take a good look at michigan , we have a democrat governor, house and senate and have for the last 6 years. Last year the house and senate raised taxes on business and gave everyone that worked for the state a 1% increase in their pay. I don't really have faith in any policticians anymore as they think being elected is an entitlement for life, not a public service.

Now I'm hearing that there is a new tax coming on pop, beer and liquior and instead of managing the prisons and taking some areas private of the prison system they are shutting down 5 prisons currently and letting out 4000 prisoners who are eligible for parole.

Last year the governor threatened to layoff state troopers and again this year too, as a scare tactic to raise taxes. Never mind the fact that we had a perfectly fine state police headquarters in ann arbor that was located at the university of michigan , Rent per year was $10.00 a year, Yep Ten dollars a year. So our policticians did what they always know how to do best and that was spend over a 100 million dollars on a new facility. And the rent is much much higher than $10.00.

Quote : The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money!!!!!!!!!! Margaret Thatcher

[Dantheman62]

They're idiots for doing this because anybody that's ever driven on gravel roads should know that they turn into washboards in no time and require constant grading and upkeep, which is just going to cost them more in the long run.