One of the platforms it seems every political candidate runs on is “Fix The Roads”. It is such a common theme but it lacks substance. What does “Fix The Roads” really mean? More construction? We hate construction too though don’t we? Candidates inform us they are joining a call to fix the infrastructure and build our roads right. What does that mean? Are we hiring scientists to develop a new compound that we will in turn replace every road with? I personally feel its a feel good platform with a catchy phrase for a poster board and absolutely nothing more. It’s a gimmick to get you on the bandwagon; and it works.
If you lived in the Detroit Metropolitan area (Southeast Michigan) during 2018 you spent the spring dodging newsroom worthy potholes and the autumn months adding minutes to your commute trying to navigate your way around crews and orange barrels while road repairs seemed just as out of control as what was the need for it.
So as you approach barricades on your commute to work, church and school with machines along the road busily kicking up particles that linger in the air, are you happier? Do you think, perhaps as a new driver would, that this is progress at work. Do you think this is my tax dollars fixing this miserable road? What about the next road? What do you think the following year when the potholes appear and we then cycle through another round of road repairs?
People mention all types of reasons our roads fail; almost most of the blame goes to weather conditions. Apparently all roads in the north are horrible. Think about that a moment (Colorado, Wisconsin, New York, etc.)
I’ll wait.
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Typical weight limits on roads in the United States is 80,000 lbs maximum. The maximum for Michigan roads is 164,000 lbs.
I’ll let that sink in for a minute
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I recently heard that there is also a “super load” allowed for a fee in Michigan where the weight allowance, of more than double that of the nation’s standard, can be exceeded for a flat fee.
Congress in 2014 shot down the idea of decreasing the weight allowance stating that only 5% of the trucks on the road in Michigan are over 80,000 lbs. My guess is the rate is low due to surrounding state laws and their maximums. I also think that number may not be completely representative of the actual number because I rarely see any Michigan weigh stations open. Next time you take a drive on the highway pay attention.
If all that was not enough, in 2014, nearly 3,800 citations were given to trucks in Michigan exceeding the weight limits.
Politician’s campaign for fixing the roads by getting more funds for Michigan. Think! Are funds for road repair the solution?
Uncommon Tongue 