Pothole season: Spring Street residents in Ann Arbor fight for repair of 'road failure'
Residents on Ann Arbor's northwest side have erected signs to commemorate the "Spring Street Beautification Project," with a sarcastic thank you message to the city of Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Marian Horowitz and her partner Richard Douglass put up the signs on Friday after trying for several months to get the city to fix their heavily deteriorated street with no luck.
Someone else planted African marigolds in between the heaving chunks of pavement in the middle of the street, just north of Summit.
"It's really a community effort," said Douglass, a professor at Eastern Michigan University. "Lots of cars have come by giving us the thumbs up. It's really been quite a ridiculous affair."
More bluntly, the signs read: "Demand Repair. Call the Mayor!" and list the number to Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje's office.
"It's getting worse and it seems to be a very low priority," Douglass said of fixing the street. "What I see here is a sad example of reactive city government."
Marian Horowitz and her partner Richard Douglass said they've been trying for several months to get the city to fix their street with no luck.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Hieftje said residents will be happy to know Spring Street is on the list of streets scheduled to be repaired starting in late May and carrying into June.
The city has extra street millage money to spare after securing several million dollars in state and federal funding for the East Stadium Boulevard bridges project. Over the next few months, the city hopes to successfully resurface or reconstruct six major streets and six residential streets, and take on smaller projects like Spring Street.
Spring Street resident Adam Kokenakes, who said he's tired of backing his car out of his driveway into the crumbling street, said the repairs can't come soon enough.
"It's been here since winter, so it's been far too long. It needs to be repaired," he said. "I mean, it's just a hassle. This is a busy road, a really busy road, and a busy intersection with a lot of traffic coming through, so it's always a problem."
Diane Fleming, another Spring Street resident, agreed.
"I think it doesn't have a base or something here," she said, pointing to previous troubles with a hole in another area of the street.
Kirk Pennington, who oversees street maintenance for Ann Arbor, confirmed the city will be doing a complete reconstruction of Spring Street, along with installation of a new drainage system to keep the new road base dry and prevent future cracking.
Potholes are usually caused by freeze-thaw cycles during the winter, and Pennington believes that's what happened to Spring Street.
Because the street is scheduled for reconstruction, the city decided not to do a temporary fix, Pennington said. But he said the city has put up orange cones and barrels around the damaged area, and crews have swept up loose pieces of pavement periodically.
Residents say the cones and barrels keep disappearing, though.
A truck navigates around the damaged portion of Spring Street on Friday afternoon.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Pennington estimated probably 30 cones and four barrels have been stolen from the site. Each cone costs the city about $20 and each barrel costs about $40, he said.
The city has a pothole hotline where citizen-reported potholes are supposed to be patched within 24 hours. The number to call is 734-99-HOLES.
Spring Street residents said they're not happy they've called various city departments multiple times and the street still hasn't been fixed.
Pennington said Spring Street was a special case.
"That's not a pothole," he said. "That's a road failure."
Pennington said city crews remain hard at work repairing potholes in other areas of the city. He estimates the city will have gone through about 500 tons of patching material this seaon. Every day, he said, at least a three-person crew is out doing pothole repairs.
"If the residents notice them, just give us a call," he said. "We'll put in a work order for it and typically they're patched within 24 hours."
A look at street projects on the horizon in Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's e-mail newsletters.
Comments
marion lawrence
Wed, May 11, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
Regarding "traffic calming" for Independence Blvd: the stretch between Packard and Victoria is the serious speedway in both directions. This pertains to not only cars, but also motorcycles. To omit this stretch of street in addressing the speed issue on Independence Blvd. would be an extreme oversight. Please include this in your plans.
say it plain
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 12:02 a.m.
What about Miller Road?! Is that merely 'bad luck' this pothole-creation season, or is that too "road failure"?! What is *with* that road; it seems to need repairing every single year and is so ridiculous every spring! I catch air often and find myself hoping there's enough room to swerve like I'm avoiding roadkill every couple yards just to try and save my car's suspension system, jeez!
CynicA2
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 9:07 p.m.
Yeah! Whatever happened to Dexter from the Jackson split to Maple, and Miller from Seventh to Maple, both were on THIS year's list last year?! Maybe someone from A2.com could find out. As usual, nothing but lies and double-talk emanating from city hall.
Jon Saalberg
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
Maybe I've just missed them, but is it really the case that Miller between Seventh and Newport, and Dexter, from the Jackson/Huron split to Maple, are not on this list? The dodge em bit on Miller is vexing, but the Dexter stretch is just plain ridiculous - I think Ann Arbor now has its new "torture test" segment for the car companies' frequent forays into town for road testing - a few years ago, it was the winding part of Geddes, east of Washtenaw.
Bogie
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 1:07 p.m.
I love the new idea of Michigan citizens. "Atleast with the potholes, people don't drive down my street fast." Really? How about a state (city, township), that provides the services they promise. I implore anyone to take any road that crosses out of our state into ohio, or indiana; and tell me, Did the road get better? Enough of lowering our standards.
say it plain
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 12:07 a.m.
And yes @Bogie, I agree, it's saddening to notice so thoroughly how much worse the roads get once you cross back into MI from a neighboring state, it is *always* noticeable to me and makes me feel discouraged and disgusted both.
say it plain
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 12:05 a.m.
@amlive, then perhaps you should live in an *actual* gated community, and allow us citizens to make use of the roads we pay our taxes for, 'kay?!
Roadman
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 3:15 p.m.
Bogie, the problems of neighborhood residents don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy mixed-up city.
amlive
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
I said residential side streets, not highways or county roads. Yes, main through ways should be maintained better than they are. Side streets I don't see to be as big a priority. Spring street is a little residential side street that goes from Sunset to Miller, and there's really very little reason anyone who doesn't live there should have to drive on it. If it's new and smooth, more people will take the shortcut from SB Main, to Summit, through Spring to Miller in the morning rush hour, flying through to dodge traffic when kids are walking to school. Right now the short-cutters instead fly down Summit (at ridiculous speeds) from Main, or Sunset from Newport down to Brooks to cut across to Miller. Brooks of course had to put in speed bumps and other "traffic calming" islands jutting in to the road to slow down the Sunset to Miller traffic. Point made. Summit is just scary, and I've called police several times urging them to set up some much needed speed traps there (no real response yet, nudge nudge). Once Spring is fixed up, residents there will be wishing for the same thing, at which point you have to admit it would have been much cheaper just to leave the holes below the surface rather than raising bumps above it to get rid of the new smooth road. Personally, when it comes time to resurface Gott street, I'd just as soon see it turned in to a dirt road and graded every year or so. It's a whole lot cheaper than making a gated community, but serves just as well to keep speedy through traffic out. Spend the money on making the roads safer that are meant to handle heavy traffic, and leave my little side street how it is. I'm okay with that.
FredMax
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 11:37 a.m.
I saw some citizens just off Scio simply repairing potholes in the street themselves [although it may have been a private road now that I think of it]. Tar is cheap; perhaps a pro-active gesture like that from the citizens of Spring street would light a fire under those that are paid to fix the streets.
Mike
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 12:27 p.m.
Easier said than done especially if you don't know what you're doing. I'll bet it lasts less than a year.
AA
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:18 a.m.
I really do not understand how the house with all the TRASH on Spring Street does not get cited? Can someone share what is so special about this constant and pervasive eyesore??? Can I trash my front/side/back yard???
pegret
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 5:37 p.m.
Yeah, AA, you can keep a dump like that for decades, but don't you dare let your sidewalk have a crack or the city will be all over you.
Mike
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 12:26 p.m.
This is Ann Arbor pal. We have our sacred cows and lots of pot dispensaries. Get a prescription for you anxiety and chill out.
CynicA2
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.
Haven't you ever seen "lawn art"? They say it's all in the eye of the beholder!
Roadman
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 1:55 a.m.
Don't blame the roadworkers for the mess. Blame an incompetent municipal bureaucracy.
rusty shackelford
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 1:41 a.m.
A more accurate headline for this article would have read, "Local grouches make uninformed complaint." Seriously, they're upset that they have to wait six months to give them a COMPLETELY NEW road? Why would I spend $1,000 to fix the road when I'm already slated to spend $100,000 (or whatever) to make a new road that will last 40 years? What did you want, Hieftjie to personally come out there with a yellow hard hat and a Tonka truck last November? Maybe he should have brought everyone on the block a Thanksgiving turkey, too? It's not the government's job to give any single individual (or block) exactly what they want immediately. Good job, Pennington, et al, setting sensible priorities and not letting the cranks automatically have their way; THAT'S what's uncommon in A2 government these days. You'd think a professor would know how to do simple research on a given topic before shooting his mouth off in public. Apparently not.
OnTheRight
Sun, May 29, 2011 : 2:52 a.m.
This is by far the BEST comment yet! I thought that the article was an April Fools joke at first because I couldn't believe that a few people could make a stink about a 4 month old pothole and actually get the city to give them a whole new street.
Mike
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 12:24 p.m.
We'll have to move to assessing costs to each household that lives on a street. Costs could be reduced by repealing Davis Bacon rules requiring paying a flag holder $40/hr.
CynicA2
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:36 a.m.
I might pay for the repair myself, just to see the Hieftje with a shovel in his hand, and a hardhat on his head - an orange jump suit would finish the outfit just perfectly!
rusty shackelford
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
I mean "I" only as an example. I'm not actually involved with spending money on roads, etc. I should have said "we" or "one" to be more clear.
CynicA2
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:23 p.m.
This sort of thing is exactly what happens when government completely neglects its core functions to pursue various frivolous forms of window-dressing, and "social engineering" projects to promote the interests of the few in stead of the obvious preferences of the many, as with the so-called "public transportation" agenda. A well-maintained network of public streets and roads has been a hallmark of great civilizations since Roman times, if not before. The frosting goes on AFTER the cake is baked, not before!
Wolf's Bane
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
What makes the damage on Spring street particularly bad is the road grade (the angel of the hill exceeds 15 degrees) and poses a real danger to traffic; cyclists and motorists alike.
Wolf's Bane
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:52 p.m.
Ever notice how when you try to brake on gravel, you start skidding? Ever notice when hitting rough terrain while riding your bike, you lose stability? My goodness, do I have to spell out everything...
Mike
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 12:22 p.m.
The potholes will slow you down
Roger Roth
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 9:21 p.m.
Fire the teachers! abolish unions! Out with big government! Rescind Obamacare! No entitlements! Stop social security and medicare! Close the Schools! No pensions! Privatize everything in sight! and, finally, get rid of roads! No roads! Except privatized toll roads! Oh, I forgot, no liberals! Oh, also, no taxes! Except on the unemployed working class and retirees! Better yet, no retirees! Forget retirees. On a side note, is it that we're simply conditioned to accept driving on anything other than perfectly smooth roads? "There's no money, so your roads have potholes." Malarkey! I'd ask my Republican friends, how might we pay for maintaining our infrasuckture?"
Mike
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 12:21 p.m.
Short answer to your question - spend wisely. I do like a number of your earlier ideas.
Hot Sam
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 9:20 p.m.
Rather than throwing more and more money at the same problem, how about demanding better results from the money we spend. Road construction and the amount we pay for it is a joke. We need some performance bonds and warranties before we spend any more than we already do...
Mike
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 12:20 p.m.
Roads are required to be built by unionized labor under the Davis Bacon Act. Add all the warranties you want it will be built into the price of the road along with allowances for price escalation. It's like buying and extended warranty on you TV, the warranty company always wins. The road builders are not going to offer warranties for free and risk going out of business. Even if they had to honor a warranty they just file bankruptcy because that's what it would force them to do. Design roads well and inspect the work and open road work up to non-union companies so we can get more bang for our tax dollars.
Hot Sam
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 9:51 p.m.
Not sure how this becomes a partisan issue...places that have been run by left wingers as long as I can remember have these issues... It's about getting our monies worth...and that should be a bi-partisan no brainer...
johnnya2
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 9:34 p.m.
This is entirely possible, BUT the upfront cost is quite a bit more expensive. Right wingers want things done on the cheap. In fact, if the city had bids from three companies to do something and took the one that was highest, but had the best warranty or lasted the longest, citizens would scream that they are building gold plated streets when all they want is a basic one.
tom swift jr.
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 6:38 p.m.
Really, this is where your energy goes? I live on a dirt road that has not been maintained by the township it is in for 25 years.. they don't fill holes they don't plow, they don't salt, they haven't been on our street for as long as I've owned the house... And, I'm fine with that....
Old Salt
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 5:32 p.m.
I do believe there are more inportnat things going on in the world for your Headline tham the condition of spring Street in Ann Arbor
bornblue
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 4:44 p.m.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT5F7SHGbQ" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqT5F7SHGbQ</a> Does Ann Arbor own any of these asphalt recyclers? I saw it on a history channel program on LA's crumbling infrastructure. I can think of plenty of roads in Ann Arbor that need to be resurfaced badly.
a2phiggy
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
The irony is that the City continues to come after its residents for small defects in their sidewalk, threatening to hire contractors and bill the homeowners hundreds of dollars to "complete the necessary work" if the owner does not. Hello pot? This is kettle. You're incompetent.
xmo
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 3:49 p.m.
If we really did have Global Warming, it would eliminate the Freeze-Thaw cycle that causes pot holes! Think of that the next time you want to be "GREEN".
Moscow On The Huron
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 4:54 p.m.
You dare to question global warming? You hater!
catfishrisin
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
Welcome to the future, where the teaPublicans cut off all tax revenue while our infrastructure dissolves
Hot Sam
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 9:17 p.m.
Some folks are so blinded by partisan fog they simply can't see clearly...
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:45 p.m.
We need an energy tax to stop global warming (oh I forgot that we are cooling now). Ok we need an energy tax to stop climate change. That's a tax nobody can escape and if it can be set up worldide governments won't have fianacial issues for a few years and can spend, spend, spend. What happens after they spend all of that? Tax the air you breathe because everytime you breathe you are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. We could implant monitors on everyone and charge per breath so it would pay to be in good shape because you would have slower resperations. That could stop the obesity epidemic and raise tax revenue. Don't tell any politicians about this idea.
SonnyDog09
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
I did not know that Hizzoner, Mayor Leftie and his minions were "teaPublicans." I thought that the People's Democratic Republic of Ann Arbor was a single party worker's paradise. Thank you for enlightening me.
Moscow On The Huron
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.
Yes, higher taxes are the road to prosperity! Hop on the tax train, everybody, it's good for you! Pay no attention to the fact that train is riding on rails that head right off a cliff. For the first time since the Great Depression the amount of money flowing from the government into households is greater than the amount of money flowing from households into the government (tax receipts.) The number of people you can tax is shrinking, their amount of money they have for you to tax (their paychecks) is shrinking, and the value of what they have (the dollar) is shrinking. How many more times are you going to squeeze that orange before you finally realize no more juice is going to come out of it? It's very irrational to get mad at those of us who have already figured out the answer to that question.
thinker
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
I sympathize with the residents of Spring Street! I note the absence of Miller Street from Seventh to Maple on the road maintenance map. The city has a wasteful project going in the west of Seventh neighborhood, and perhaps other areas, in which they are installing skid-proof ramps at every curb, even taking out previous curb cuts. These ramps extend into the street. Apparently the previous ramps were too steep. I am sympathetic to wheelchair users, having spent some time in one myself, but surely there are not so many that every sidewalk has to be ramped! The silliest one is across a miniscule traffic island at the base of Vesper and Red Oak. Ramp going up then goes down immediately. Come see it! A ridiculous waste of OUR tax money, no matter what fund it came from! Sorry Spring Street, but the gradual destruction of your street by the ubiquitous springs in your neighborhood, is not as important as these! We need to set better priorities, and if our present council can't, and our mayor won't, it may be time for a change.
johnnya2
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
Wow, so if not enough wheelchair bound people use it to YOUR satisfaction it should not be done? This little thing called the LAW requires the city to do that. I am sure businesses are clamoring to come to this state with streets in monumental disrepair. y the way, are these road repairs paying for themselves like right wingers want mass transit to do?
Vivienne Armentrout
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
The ramps are the result of a court order. The city was putting in improperly angled ramps and the Center for Independent Living sued and won under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The city has no choice now but to replace them.
AA
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.
Why not clean up that hideous eyesore of a house on Spring Street with all the litter and letters. And why is that allowed to continue?
Wolf's Bane
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:03 p.m.
That's my friend Joe's house. He is a real A2 character and thew former owner of the Joe Star Lounge. He also knows more about music than you ever will.
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
That's Ann Arbor neighborhood character, get over it. We like to smoke pot here too, lots of it.
Faith Bulemore
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 2:17 p.m.
You can only blame Engler for the state of our roads. He was our gov.
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:39 p.m.
Engler was not our governor for the last 8 years. Have you been away for awhile or are you so partisan that you can't be factual statements?
logo
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:42 p.m.
The city is acting properly on this. It would have been silly to patch this over the winter only to tear it up in the spring. Read the article. The City has had to save most of the street money for a couple of years to replace the bridge, finally they won the Federal money. It would have been a mistake to replace the bridge sooner. Same with this pothole. This is the worst recession in 80 years. Have you been to Grand Rapids or Lansing lately? Have you seen their streets? A lot of cities have raised taxes. Ann Arbor has not. The state takes more city money away each year. If you want better streets, you should push for a tax increase.
CynicA2
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
WRONG! No tax increases are necessary if we stop squandering scarce tax dollars on frivolous, so-called "public art" urinals, murals, statues or whatever, plus the extra bureaucrats in city hall to "administer" the burning of these dollars. Throw in a bunch of ugly, pretentious, and overpriced bike racks and so-called "way-finding" signs, and narrow the streets to further impede the flow of traffic, and then wonder why there is not enough money to fix the NEIGHBORHOOD streets?!? Get rid of that clown show in city hall and stop spending on all these silly projects DOWNTOWN, and we will have lots of extra money to repair our LOCAL streets. Whatever happened to all those big plans to "rebuild" Miller Ave? And BTW, Spring St. is listed above for "Pavement Repair" - not a rebuild. Get the Hieftje out there with a pick and shovel!
zip the cat
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
Well get all your neighbors together and stop paying your taxes to them,the city Pay to a escrow account and I'll bet you get your street fixed
clownfish
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
Ask Wesley Snipes how that worked for him.
a2susan
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:09 p.m.
It's Victoria Ave, not Victory Ave...and the city might as well fix the one calming bump it has at the intersection of Gladstone and Independence, which is a 4-way stop sign. Most people just slow down at the calming bump rather than stop at the stop sign.
TreeTown
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
Well, friends on Spring Steet. You are not along. I have been calling them for Green Rd and Glazier (on the list) for the past three years. Not the priority, they said (same for the dead trees in my sub), you see, the politicians visiting Ann Arbor are very unlikely to stop by our neighborhood. But for the City Hall, they will, therefore the city hall's adjacent side walks are in pavers not just concrete. The granite retening wall at Huron Park Way along Huron Golf course are much better than your 6x6 pretreated lumbers. Heck, the forest department lady even told me the little dead crab (city tree), can wait another three years (total 6) to be cut down. That's how Ann Arbor running today!
deb
Tue, May 10, 2011 : 1:13 a.m.
They cut down a nice live oak the other day by my house. So they can cut down living trees
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:38 p.m.
No money; but you can ask the city to assess all houses in your neighborhood and have your roads re-paved. You can definitely afford it if you live in Ann Arbor; right?
Robert Granville
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
Let me get this straight. The residents quoted say this problem has existed since winter. So at the earliest, they've been complaining since late November. How proactive do they expect the city government to be? The city did not send out crews to fill the holes because it would be a waste of money to fill holes on a street that requires complete reconstruction. Maybe this information was not given to the residents until now. It seems fairly clear that the reconstruction in May is the earliest this issue could have been addressed if all the info in this article is accurate. You can't build a road base in the middle of winter. This whole story seems like evidence of miscommunication and impatience... not ineffective government. The bridge project on the other hand...
pbehjatnia
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
i live around the corner from this mess. there have been cones and barrels out there, in the middle of the street, for ca. 2 months now. it really is ridiculous that it would take so long for the city to do anything about it. it is in the middle of the street. it is HUGE and it is a repeat situation. if this were burns park or campus neighborhood, it would have been taken care of long ago.
CynicA2
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:29 a.m.
They could have cold-patched it months ago, and it would have been safer to drive on thru the winter months... people wouldn't be swerving to avoid it etc. I can guarantee it would have been taken care of in the Mayor's neighborhood (Burns Park). Eat the rich!
Robert Granville
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
You can't rebuild a road base in winter while freezing and thawing is still occurring... at least I've never seen it done. If you eliminate the unworkable winter months, The city is responding immediately to the problem. May is basically the beginning of road construction in MI is it not?
Kea
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:46 p.m.
Whenever I return to AA, I feel as though I'm arriving in a third-world county, the streets and roads are so bad. It's actually cheaper to maintain streets and road correctly than let them crumble into a mass of potholes and patches.
amlive
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:52 p.m.
Have you ever actually been to a third-world country, like Flint?
clownfish
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:45 p.m.
Haggerty road in W Bloomfield is as bad or worse than any A2 street. Orchard Lake Rd is falling apart too. Cut taxes, drown the govt in a bathtub, then complain about government, what a great plan!
Robert Granville
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:03 p.m.
That's an exaggeration if I've ever seen one. I moved to Ann Arbor in May from Kalamazoo. I can tell you that the road situation is better in Ann Arbor than anywhere I've ever been in MI.... let alone Kalamazoo.
fjord
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:33 p.m.
The answer, quite simply, is more tax revenue. Stop electing politicians whose only idea is to cut taxes, and maybe we'll have a halfway decent infrastructure.
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:35 p.m.
More taxes!!!! Yeah that's the answer! Take all of our money and ten you can feed and house us too.
Moscow On The Huron
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 4:31 p.m.
Yes, more taxes is the solution to everything! Better roads! Better schools! Better public art! More taxes! More taxes! All problems are fixed by increasing taxes!
Peter Baker
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.
Hear hear! And, if we ponied up a little bit more in advance, and used thicker pavement, we wouldn't have half these potholes, nor the constant recurring costs of fixing them.
bg
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 12:09 p.m.
The quality by which potholes are repaired ensures that those doing the repairs have a job in the following years. Filling a hole with asphalt is futile.
amlive
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 11:03 a.m.
I live in that neighborhood (not on that particular street, but one pretty bad none the less), and I'm not complaining about it. If it were in better shape there would be just more cars driving faster in a neighborhood with lots of kids. It's natural "traffic calming", seriously. It's an effective deterrent to speeders and people who would otherwise cut through residential side streets to avoid busier main roads that are supposed to handle the through traffic. If they fixed it, myself and others would probably just end up asking the city to put in speed bumps. As it is, it may not look pretty, but it does exactly what I need it to. Gives me a path to get from my driveway to Miller or Summit (at <25mph), but not quite so nice a path that others would want to use it if they didn't have to. Just how I like it. I do feel bad for bicyclists, but other than that, I'm quite okay with it. Seriously. Spend the money on the stadium bridge, and leave the side streets as they are. It works out just fine that way in my opinion.
amlive
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 5:56 a.m.
"Only in A2 would someone think this way... " Not so fast - I'm an immigrant, come from northern Michigan. Leaving the roads good enough for people who live there to get in and out, but rough enough to discourage outsiders from zipping through - that's our version of a gated community, and much more economical.
CynicA2
Mon, May 9, 2011 : 2:18 a.m.
Only in A2 would someone think this way... poorly maintained roads often contribute to accidents, and certainly contribute to higher maintenance costs for all who have the misfortune to drive on them. Pre-Hieftje, the roads were in much better shape than now - it's all a matter of priorities.
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Don't feel bad for the bicyclists; per capita we probably have spend more on them than the motoring public. The bridge over US23 is nices than the Stadium raod bridge over State Street. Traifci has been calmed (and congested) on Stadium and now we have large bike paths AND sidewalks. Great planning on the city's part there.
Duran
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 5:40 p.m.
You are 100% correct. As soon as it is fixed,the speeds will increase and you will have a whole new problem.They should be careful of what they wish for,this is the lessor of the two evils.We all want to live in a perfect city.
local
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:57 a.m.
Well when you spend huge amounts of money on art murals near the possibly unneeded, brand new addition to the offices downtown, it cuts into the real needs within the city. Wonder if you could sue the city when one of this potholes destroys a vehicle (tires, rims, tie rods, etc..)? I am guessing the mayor will probably ask to put bike lanes in as well hoping you won't drive your cars down the street. This is another example of govt. not providing some of the basic needs of its citizens.
Sallyxyz
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:46 a.m.
This is a short list considering the poor condition of many streets and roads in Ann Arbor.
Mike
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 8:31 p.m.
The list is going to get longer. No money, budget deficits, and nobody wants to cut. Joblessness = less tax revenues. Tax the businesses more = less jobs. Can't have you cake and eat it too I guess.
yohan
Sun, May 8, 2011 : 10:41 a.m.
"That's not a pothole," he said. "That's a road failure." It is neither, It's a government failure. Thank You Mayor Hieftje!