Lansing State Journal - Bill is due on Michigan's bad roads

[JREwing78]

A number of editorials in the LSJ have brought up the topic of Michigan's inadequate road funding. Certainly, the 19 cents per gallon Michigan currently levies for roads (hasn't changed since 1997) is causing quite a strain; they've had to count the $500 million Canada put up for the DRIC project as part of their federal match to get federal highway funds for projects.

Compared with places such as Indiana and Wisconsin, capacity expansion simply isn't happening in Michigan to any great degree. Stimulus funds are a large part of the improvements that are happening. County and local roads are also seeing the hit; many have opted to pulverize paved roads and return them to gravel instead of repairing them due to funding shortfalls.

Bill is due on Michigan's bad roads
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120728/OPINION/307280061/Bill-due-Michigan-s-bad-roads

Rich Studley: Doing nothing will harm state's economy
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120729/OPINION04/307290084/Rich-Studley-Doing-nothing-will-harm-state-s-economy

Jason Mancini: Investing in transportation will create a prosperous Michigan
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120729/OPINION04/307290083/Jason-Mancini-Investing-transportation-will-create-prosperous-Michigan

Road-crunching trumps repaving in more counties
http://capitalnewsservice.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/road-crunching-trumps-repaving-in-more-counties/

[ARMOURERERIC]

With all the talk of Detroit's declining population, are there any freeways in the Detroit metro area that are no longer needed?

[JREwing78]

No - in fact, they're needed more now since many downtown workers use the freeways to commute in. The city may have declined in population, but the metropolitan area still consists of over 4 million residents, and that hasn't decreased nearly as much as Detroit's population drop would imply.

All that Michigan's economic woes may have done is to reduce the severity of congestion on the major freeways. Maybe.

[silverback1065]

The first thing they need to do with that money is finish us31!

[JREwing78]

The first thing they need to do with that money is finish us31!

Well, at least the part around Grand Haven and the connection to I-94 in Benton Harbor.

I would argue 3-laning I-94 and I-96 would take higher precedence. Ditto for US-23 between Flint and Ann Arbor.

[ftballfan]

The first thing they need to do with that money is finish us31!

Well, at least the part around Grand Haven and the connection to I-94 in Benton Harbor.

I would argue 3-laning I-94 and I-96 would take higher precedence. Ditto for US-23 between Flint and Ann Arbor.

Then how did MDOT get money to widen I-75 between Saginaw and Flint to four lanes each way and US-127 at Clare to three lanes each way?
I-94 should be three lanes each way statewide.
I-96 should be three lanes between Marne and M-6 and on the south side of Lansing.
US-23 should be three lanes between I-96 and I-94 at minimum
The gaps in US-31 should be completed. IMO, US-31 in the Holland area can be upgraded as there aren't nearly as many driveways through there as there are through Grand Haven and there are already three interchanges.

[mgk920]

And don't forget a US 41 freeway bypass of Menomonee!



Mike

[JREwing78]

All those in favor of repairing our roads and bridges, raise your hand.

Everyone in favor of spending your money to do it, raise your hand.

Yep. There's the problem: No hands on the second question.

Tim Skubick: Roads need fixing, but don't expect quick action by Michigan legislature
http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/09/tim_skubick_roads_need_fixing.html

[JeffB]

The first thing they need to do with that money is finish us31!

Well, at least the part around Grand Haven and the connection to I-94 in Benton Harbor.

I would argue 3-laning I-94 and I-96 would take higher precedence. Ditto for US-23 between Flint and Ann Arbor.

3-laning I-94 should be the top priority, given the amount of truck traffic from Benton Harbor to Ann Arbor.  I'd put US-23, at least from Brighton to Ann Arbor, second.  Then I-96 from M-59 to Grand Rapids if not Muskegon.  Frankly a third lane on I-94 should have been a higher priority than a fourth lane on I-75 between I-475 and Bridgeport (and I drive I-75 more than I-94).

[InterstateNG]

With what money?  It's not as simple as just laying down an additional lane of pavement.