Michigan’s rural roads may be in for some changes. The word is getting out.
The road in front of our house, which is located on the left.
An AP story dated Friday June 12 reports:
LANSING – As goes Michigan’s crumbling economy, so go some once-paved rural roads now being turned back into gravel. About a quarter of the state’s county road agencies largely left out of the federal stimulus package, which focuses on highways and other major thoroughfares, say they can’t afford some costly repaving projects and have crushed up deteriorating roads.
Montcalm County alone estimates it saved nearly $900,000 by converting almost 10 miles of pothole-plagued pavement into gravel this spring.
Reverting to gravel on low-traffic roads has been done to some degree for years and long-term savings and maintenance costs vary widely. But it can be an attractive option for municipalities seeking to save money up front and it’s recently been done in a few other states, including Indiana and Vermont.
More than 20 of the 83 counties in Michigan, home to the nation’s highest unemployment rate for much of the past four years, have turned rural roads back to gravel with no immediate plans to repave, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. About 50 miles have been reverted in the last three years.
You can read the complete story here.
The pain is coming home to many folks in these economic hard times. Fortunately, they won’t be changing our road. It is already a gravel (or dirt) road, and that’s okay by me.
Imagine, you may soon be tooling around on gravel roads only! It'd make a trip home from the grocery store with eggs quite an experience.
Justine ;o )
Sherri, The county takes good care of our road. And at least the pot holes are rounded.
Ratty, The first few years here I hoped for a paving project. No longer.
Arija, The savings is all up front
Lin, No! No emissions testing here. The horses insist.
A surprising post. We live on a gravel road which needs resurfacin everu two years amd grading twice a year. I cannot see where the savings come in, or is there no pitch hot enough?
We have emissions testing for cars here in the city–do you have that?? I cannot imagine having to have my horse tested!! I think he would be a tad uncomfortable with the emissions measuring rod up his hiney!
This news of gravel roads will actually make my brother happy. They were thinking of paving the roads that surround his house, and he didn't want it. He was thinking that the people that already drive too fast would go even faster. And he thought the paved roads would take away the country feel to the area.
We live on a gravel road. Sometimes the county has to grade it, but it's not bad. Thankfully our house is far enough back we don't have to deal with all the dust.
jimgrey, The change is not happening everywhere just in some of the poorer counties.
Gaelyn, I enjoy living on my gravel and dirt road. I'll never have a clean car again. At least not for more than a couple of minutes of drive time.
Lin, You have my permission. However, you alone are responsible for cleaning up the emissions.
So, can I ride my horse to work then??!
Seems like a very good idea. We don't need so much pavement. I have fond memories of bumping down some sandy roads near Gobles MI.
Great post. More places should follow this example.
I remember when the rural road on which my grandparents lived (in Cass County, MI) was paved — late 70s sometime. It was a big deal that ended the lumpty-bumpty mud-bog mess the gravel (and sometimes dirt) road had been. Funny to think that it could revert to its former state!