  Wazootyman Member Username: Wazootyman Post Number: 385 Registered: 02-2006 |
Is anyone else as bothered by the condition of our highway roadsides as I have been the last month? I'm beyond embarrassment - I actually got quite angry at the sight of it during a trip from Livonia to St. Clair Shores this morning (via I-96 and I-94). What must people from out of town think? I should mention that it's not just an issue in Metro Detroit. You'll see it all along I-96, from Detroit to Muskegon, for example. Things were a little better once I reached the "Grosse Pointe Communities" threshold on I-94, oddly enough... It's not just the tall grass and garbage. It's the blown tire fragments, dead trees (still remaining from the Ash tree die-off years ago), weeds twice the height of the grass and piles of dirt/gravel on the shoulder. It's the areas where the grass is in such poor shape that large dirt craters have formed. The fencing is in terrible shape, too. For example, a portion of the fence 100 - 200' long at the east-bound exit ramp at Farmington on I-96 is curled up, half laying on the ground, half laying on the posts. It's been this way since January or so. Frankly, it looks like absolute shit. I understand that the state is in trouble financially. I also understand that the winter last year eroded a lot of MDOT's budget, and has lead to part of the problem. But, in the grand scheme of the budget, how much can it cost to run some lawnmowers, pick up some garbage and fix some fences? The benefit to the regional image vs. the cost has to be overwhelmingly strong. Again, I don't know if I'm alone, but it puts me in a really foul mood when I see it. It takes major roadways that hundreds of thousands of people see on a daily basis and says: "Welcome to Metro Detroit. Throw your fast food waste out window. We don't care." Is there anything we can do? I understand that the Adopt-a-Highway program exists, but I also don't believe it's something an individual can readily get involved in, nor should the region rely on volunteers for such a basic service (in my opinion). Get the community service "volunteers" out there on a weekly basis to pick up the trash and repair the fences. Maybe MDOT could resist dumping salt everytime a snowflake falls. Oftentimes by the time the salt kicks in, the sunshine or daytime heat melt the snow anyhow. | ||
Eriedearie Member Username: Eriedearie Post Number: 2831 Registered: 08-2007 |
Wazoo - you're not the only one that has noticed. I've often thought that if someone came along the highways and just picked up the car parts along the way, they probably would have enough of everything to build their own vehicle. I've seen all sorts of stuff lying about in our travels. It is a disgrace. The other day we were taking the detour through the Gateway Project to come back across the bridge. The condition of that service drive and all the tall weeds and garbage strewn about; it all looked so nasty while we were backed up in traffic. I wonder what our out-of-towners thought. I've not seen any other approach to an International Crossing that looks so disgusting. | ||
Parkguy Member Username: Parkguy Post Number: 323 Registered: 04-2007 |
I'm really fed up with the dead animals, especially dead deer, along the highways statewide. That's a health issue, and disgusting, too! | ||
Funaho Member Username: Funaho Post Number: 81 Registered: 11-2007 |
There's a dead deer on westbound I-94 around exit 183 that's been there for months. It's now nothing but some skin and bones, literally. Before that there were a couple on the eastbound side near Haggerty; one I could actually smell it rotting in the sun when I drove by every day. As to fences, be thankful that the fence is still there. Around here almost all the freeway fencing has been stolen. (Message edited by Funaho on August 23, 2008) | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1838 Registered: 04-2006 |
I was on Michigan today in Inkster. I was amazed at how well kept the median was. At least one community is trying to put its best face forward. | ||
Eriedearie Member Username: Eriedearie Post Number: 2844 Registered: 08-2007 |
Hooray for Inkster. One stretch I used to notice when I worked out that way was Telegraph Road in Southfield. Their grounds crew kept up things very nicely. That is just terrible about that deer Funaho. You can't tell me that someone in charge out that way didn't drive past that this whole summer. What a shame! Gives a real nice view of our surroundings to any vacationers. | ||
Royce Member Username: Royce Post Number: 2777 Registered: 07-2004 |
Yeah, the freeways look unkempt. | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 540 Registered: 08-2007 |
Mich Ave in Inkster has good sod tween the roads, but what just hit me was the way DETROIT LOOKED in 1937, not a whole lot of change to me in my eyes. | ||
Russix Member Username: Russix Post Number: 120 Registered: 11-2006 |
I've noticed the high grass along the freeway as well. I think it hides the garbage better. The State has made budget cuts and nicely groomed freeways is probably something we can survive without. | ||
Detroit1 Member Username: Detroit1 Post Number: 3 Registered: 08-2008 |
Wazootyman, I composed nearly an identical letter on the MDOT website. I too was playing tour guide to friends from Arizona and was disgusted by the condition of the freeways this summer. Among others, the worst was I-696 from I-75 to I-94. Weeds several feet high filled with trash. I received a form letter back from MDOT Communications Assistant Devon Pannecouk explaining the budget shortfall. Unfortunately he offered no remedies. His e-mail address is PannecoukD@michigan.gov Its not enough that Michigan has the worst roads in the country. Now we also have the most unsightly embankments! Depressing.... | ||
Eriedearie Member Username: Eriedearie Post Number: 2854 Registered: 08-2007 |
I just jotted off an email to Devon. Probably won't do any good - but at least he's aware that we're noticing the lack of care. | ||
Bloaf Member Username: Bloaf Post Number: 8 Registered: 08-2008 |
It doesn't bother me. It's a freeway, and you use it to get places. Unless the tall grass is making for a longer ride, I couldn't care less. | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 700 Registered: 07-2007 |
I've heard that this kind of maintenance is the first thing to go when the money gets tight. Even if the local community wants to clean things up, where MDOT owns the right-of-way, local governments can't do any work without first getting permission from MDOT. I believe that Southfield has an agreement with MDOT to maintain Telegraph which is why it still looks good. Same with Woodward in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills. | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1846 Registered: 04-2006 |
The funding for roads has been strained as of late. Roads and transit are funded through a gasoline tax that is assessed by the gallon, not the cost. Hence with people driving less, the reciepts are down considerably. Costs for replacement materials such as asphalt and steel have gone through the roof as these are commodities (hence the scrappers have gone crazy). Last winter was also very expensive for road agencies as the snow seemed to always need to be plowed, the roads salted, and the pavements suffered big time. The pie is only so big, and its getting smaller. This is also hurting transit, as both federal and state funds for transit are entirely paid for through gas tax receipts. At the same time, transit is being asked to run more buses and use more diesel which got as high as $5 a gallon (transit about 35 cents less as govt does not pay the gas tax). | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 1718 Registered: 10-2003 |
Cub and I both noticed that this year the city has been mowing the vacant lots around our houses (different neighborhoods, both East side) I know they've been in my hood at LEAST three times this summer. One time running over a bunch of full garbage garbage bags spreading trash everywhere. The next day there were a bunch of dudes working off community service picking it up. I found that pretty sad but funny. My landlord was getting bills from the city for the mow jobs they would do on various props. he owned. He called and called about what addresses were mowed and what he owed. He called and called asking that same thing. After a while the garage he was calling that did the mowing and was supposed to have the records and was sending out these bills was sick of him calling. The garage just kept saying they would get back to him. Garage man finally broke and said "listen man, we just mow lawns and send out bills to the property owners, hope for the best and take what ppl send us, so dont worry about it, and quit buggin me" That there may be a reason why their mowing so many vacant lots. Id rather have the freeways lookin good than the lots surrounding a burned out house. Correct me if Im wrong in this thinking. The weeds next to my house dont bother me, I grew up in the stix though (somewhat anyway). | ||
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner Post Number: 1849 Registered: 04-2006 |
Wow Django, I guess it don't hurt to live in Kwame's mommy's district. We don't get any of that stuff on the west side! | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 1720 Registered: 10-2003 |
I have no idea Dp. I was assuming it was just a cheap way of bringing in some money. They do a horrible job of mowing btw. This is the first time theyve been out more than once a year as far as Ive seen. | ||
Eriedearie Member Username: Eriedearie Post Number: 2856 Registered: 08-2007 |
Got my email back as undeliverable. So that was a false email address - no surprise there! | ||
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup Post Number: 4949 Registered: 06-2004 |
At least in the metro area the interstates and most of the state highways are bid out to contractors. Some years the request was for two cuts, others years for three cuts. Ideally the contractors are supposed to coordinate with the state to get the highway adoption program volunteers out for trash pickup about a week before the contractor gets to the section. So, yeah, the interstates only get picked up a couple of times a year provided there are sufficient volunteers. Things that are traffic hazards the police or passing MDOT crews might move to the side. Add in all the in-state and out-of-state trash dragged via highway to Michigan landfills and there's crap everywhere. Personally I like the ideas of deposits on ALL beverage containers and the banning of plastic grocery bags. | ||
Quinn Member Username: Quinn Post Number: 1666 Registered: 01-2005 |
This has always been a pet peeve of mine, and a major reason our roads don't last. We don't get basic maintenance around here. Those little bits of dust turn into pebbles, which chip away concrete and become stones, which become rocks... And so on and so forth until we have to replace the whole frickin thing. Instead of simply street sweeping once a week, we have to spend a billion to completely redo it. SO FUSTRATING! | ||
Chuckjav Member Username: Chuckjav Post Number: 658 Registered: 09-2007 |
Not trying to be a smart-ass (yeah, right). But.... The title of this thread sounds like the first line from a Dusty Springfield tune. | ||
Quonset_hut Member Username: Quonset_hut Post Number: 2 Registered: 08-2008 |
Even in the 1937 Safety Patrol movie, at least one corner has weeds and a falling apart curb!! | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 705 Registered: 07-2007 |
Even with two to three cuts per year, you'll be seeing tall weeds most of the time. | ||
Fareastsider Member Username: Fareastsider Post Number: 955 Registered: 08-2006 |
I was in Houston last week and covered many miles of highways and freeways. Their Freeways in Texas looked like the emerald city compared to ours. My wife noticed that she saw no road kill at all even. Their grass is cut and the roads all still look brand new! Saturday I drove from Chesterfield to Canton and the amount of trash and debris was sickening not to mention all of the FOR LEASE signs! The condition of our roads is an embarrassment. Sure it may not be necessary for safety but if we let our roads get like that it is a window in to the condition of our state and city. | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 707 Registered: 07-2007 |
Does grass even grow in the summer in Texas? And what wildlife do they have in Houston besides armadillos? I'm not trying to be a wiseacre but comparing roads in places where it doesn't snow and the grass never grows doesn't seem to be an apt comparison. | ||
Kennyd Member Username: Kennyd Post Number: 38 Registered: 04-2008 |
I saw a news story several weeks ago that said MDOT was adding plantings to the embankments that need less maintainance, cutting, etc as a cost-saving measure. Of course, not cutting the grass is a less expensive alternative. Michigan has always had crap strewn roads and "tumbleweeds" growing out of the cracks in the concrete median. It's our forte'. |
