Ann Arbor area residents ecstatic about Clark Road repavement project
Drivers who travel down Clark Road are used to the jarring quilt of asphalt patches. Over the years, they've slammed on the brakes, swerved and avoided the area to stay off what's been called one of the worst roads in Washtenaw County.
That's why local residents along the border between Ann Arbor Township and Pittsfield Township are applauding road work this week to repave Clark Road after years of patching.
Drivers are being advised to avoid Clark Road between Hogback and Golfside roads on Wednesday and Thursday for repaving.
Chrissie Smith, a resident in nearby Arbor Pointe, said the road is dangerous for anyone who drives, bikes or walks along it.
“It’s messing up our cars,” Smith said. “People who walk don’t have access to sidewalks, so they walk along the street."
Cars swerving all over the road to avoid large areas of potholes and bumps worsen the situation, she said.
Resident Jennifer Ferry called Clark Road a “landmine.”
“I have to replace the right axle (of my car),” she said. “I don’t know if it’s from the road or wear-and-tear.”
Comments
Wystan
Fri, Sep 11, 2009 : 9:08 a.m.
Next time you find youself zipping along Clark Road in your family chariot, give a thought to the memory of the late Zeke Jabbour, a champion professional poker player who lived in a modern house up on the hillside on the north side of Clark, just east of Hogback Road. Along with other members of the Ann Arbor-Ypsi theatrical crowd, Zeke had been an active organizer of the Ypsilanti Greek Theater project in the early 1960s -- a quirky endeavor which survived for a season or two of outdoor performances before going belly up. (YGT brought famous actors such as Bert Lahr and Dame Judith Anderson here for summertime gigs.) As a souvenir of the costly theater debacle, Zeke rescued an honest-to-Zeus working chariot, which had been used as a prop in the Bert Lahr production of Aristophnes' "The Birds." For years, the chariot rested (and rusticated) up there on the hillside, beside Jabbour's driveway, a familiar landmark to all who passed below.
Laura Bien
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 9:58 p.m.
Concerning the general topic mentioned of Michigan roads, at the recent band organ fest in Riverside Park, one organ owner said he didn't take his more delicate and valuable organ up here because of US-23--he had traveled it before and it caused way too much damage to his organ in the trailer (even though it's firmly strapped down), with parts being knocked out, &c. Back to Clark Road..
81wolverine
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 3:54 p.m.
Thank God! This stretch of road has been on my Worst 5 Sections of Washtenaw Roads list for several years. A couple other horrible road sections are Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. between Wagner and Maple, and the onramp from Ann Arbor-Saline Rd. to eastbound I-94. Don't go on those two if you have any loose fillings or teeth. Of course, none of this even includes all the dangerous unpaved main roads with 50 mph speed limits around the county.
yhc
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 12:14 p.m.
FINALLY! my kids would always wake-up on Clark (hogback/golfside) every time stinkin drove on that road. Does anyone know who/where to go for complaints regarding public spaces? I've wanted to complaing about the conditions for so long, but I never knew who to go to...
Rod Johnson
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 12:09 p.m.
It's not just local roads, it's the whole state. Every time I drive out of state I know when I've crossed back into Michigan by the way the roads are suddenly worse. There's something broken about our system--financing, contracting, maintenance, I don't know what, but compare us to states with a similar climate like Wisconsin or Minnesota and we're just worse.
tidge
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 11:06 a.m.
Let me add my voice to the chorus: The section between Golfside and Hogback has been absolutely horrible (especially the eastbound portion) for so long I'd forgotten how bad it was..until I had the misfortune to recently use the road. There certainly are other roads in bad shape, but few others that I've travelled had made me consciously think that I was going to face unavoidable auto damage by driving on them.
jrigglem
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 9:54 a.m.
It's about time!!!
Phillip Farber
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 9:45 a.m.
If you're unfortunate enough to have to drive everywhere you'll need to get used to lots more roads in terrible condition just like Clark Rd. Where do you think the money to maintain them is coming from? Has anyone looked at the city, county and state tax revenue shortfalls lately? Good luck.
DebbieDora2
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 6:28 a.m.
Thank you Chrissie Smith I have had 2 flat tires, rims. alloys and 3 vehicles severly damaged by this road. Then they figth over who should fix it. The patching job well my 5 year old could of done A lot better since he has talent in the sand box. This patching has creayed to the debt of the county etc. to the point they are going to take the vans away from disabled residents to get around because it costs 4800.00 s year.I am sure they have spent that patching, work pay, over time and to be honest they should be sued in a class action suit for letting this go. This road has been nothing but a hazard and a disgrace people throwing garbage. A beautiful road let go. Come on you wonder why your budget are screwed. Look at the over time, patching a joke you have spent in the last 5 years instead of doing the right thing. Thank you for finally getting to this story it to bad its a million dollars plus later. 1000's of damaged cars to late.
Warbler
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 5:36 a.m.
Can now kick-start the Geddes Rd / US-23 project? I can't believe they just let the road fall apart like it has. Looks like we have to deal with it for seven more months. This winter will be ugly for that exchange.
Matt Sussman
Wed, Aug 12, 2009 : 2:14 a.m.
Sounds like this bumps up the 94-East onramp from southbound Ann Arbor-Saline on the asphalt transplant donor list.
Wystan
Tue, Aug 11, 2009 : 11:15 p.m.
Dale, here's another surprising thing: Clark Road follows original section lines, west toward Hogback. If you can then picture it leaping over a big chunk of Ann Arbor, and continuing its westerly trend, it would be continuous with Scio Church Road, another section line road.
Dale R. Leslie
Tue, Aug 11, 2009 : 9:21 p.m.
Ah, yes, Clark Road. Well, I remember when it was an unimproved road- dirt road- and it was like a washboard. And did you realize that Clark Road's western boundry(as most know it)is not LeForge Road? Clark Road also runs east and west from roughly Hewitt Road to Hogback Road. Which begs the question, were the two sections once connected? Somebody older than I would know.