Hello, This Is Your Axle Speaking: Michigan Roads Stink

In many areas of southeast Michigan, only about half of the trunkline roads are considered to be in fair condition. (Patch photo illustration/Creative Commons)

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The bad news: 15 percent of Migican’s priority roads are in poor condition, and that’s just on the trunkline system, where 65 percent of Michigan’s traffic moves.

The worse news: The situation that has grain trucks and commuters dodging deep potholes is getting worse, not better.

The terrible news: The number of roads rated as poor has been steadily increasing – the number of good or fair roads is down to 85 percent from 92 percent eight years – as state bonding federal stimulus money run out.

Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle told The Lansing News/MLive.com that 1 percent to 2 percent of primary roads have been falling into the poor category each of the past several years.

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But the computer model transportation officials have used for 15 years suggests 6 percent to 7 percent could fall into the poor category in the near future.

“We’re about ready to see a rapid deterioration on the state trunkline system,” he said.

The rest of the state’s road system isn’t in much better shape. Nearly 40 percent of 40,000 miles of roads receiving federal aid – trunklines, primary country roads and major city streets were rated poor in 2014, preliminary data from the Transportation Asset Management Council show.

The TAMC website has an interactive map with more information about Michigan roads.

On May 5, Michigan voters will decide Proposal 1, which calls for a constitutional amendment to raise the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent and increase vehicle registration fees to address the looming road crisis.