awenthol
133125
2500
66
3182
Mar 6, 2018 3:46 PM
awenthol
133125
2500
66
Zero3Quarter
How cute. Y’all clearly never been to Quebec
Rupertc1
Pot holes are so bad here it is a recurring news story. One resident lost 7 tires in January.
jonpelu
Mich allows truck weights of 164K lbs. Most other states only up to 80K lbs. Add freeze/thaw cylces and we be fuct...
AnExtraCurvyPieceOfDriftwood
I love it when Michigan makes it to Imgur.
EnderTot
I'm down two tires and a windshield. #puremichigan
IW42
Enjoy your motorcycle!
tggbvcxzsxv
I-75 does have a 57 year repair plan. It’s gonna be great.
SAFireStorm
They need the people who rebuild I96 in Livonia to do I75 (and every freeway). Start late, end early, on budget, pothole free a few years on
CommissarCornflakes
696 has an ongoing 'falling debris advisory.' A FALLING DEBRIS ADVISORY.
LeonQuin87
When you go to Belgium or The Netherlands and come across a road called Heerweg or Heirbaan it means it was build during the roman times.
Musicman12456
Canadian here, can confirm was in Troy, MI this weekend. I-75 (4 lane hwy) down to 1 lane for MILES patching pot holes. M59 better route
joeys2323
I seriously want to leave the state just because of the roads. They're so fucking bad!
tft57
Bye
tundrasaurus
Roman roads weren't incessantly pummeled by 18-wheelers filled up with livestock.
Roehcai
Their 18-wheelers were filled with togas.
jhaney37
Belisar565
Minnesotan here, our roads are not Michigan level. But can confirm roads don't survive freak 30 degree weather changes every other day.
MFDork
As a fellow Minnesotan, hope your back is holding out with the weather we've had since the New Year.
Californiasnow
I've never seen rebar in asphalt before. That's not suppose to be there.
tft57
Don’t like it. Move out. No hurricanes, earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires. Quit whining. Bitch.
Narushima
"In some European countries they drive on the left."
SirChadwellHeath
FYI that means: UK, Ireland, Cyprus & Malta
stratus41298
To be fair it was the Roman military who maintained the roads. That, and slaves.
MeanHug
You know what’s even better? Waking up to six inches of snow, which is fine if it fills in the potholes. But usually it just hides them.
playswithf1re
America should do what Australia does with roads (also guns!). Every litre of petrol sold has a 38c tax added to provide decent roads to all
awenthol
Michigan has the 4th highest gas tax in America and 40th for putting it back into the roads...
playswithf1re
ours is done at a federal level.
GyroPunk
My alma matter has cobblestone road from the 1400s that has full size buses and car traffic daily in N Scotland,You can build better roads
SexyAttackHelicopter
From a similar climatic and latitudinal area. Can confirm. (Boston)
MrFancyPanzer
Why is there rebar in the asphalt?
MerToo
Americans have a lot of concrete roads with steel reinforcing. In NZ a concrete road is vanishingly rare, we barely know they're a thing.
tomtomson
I'm from the us and I did not know this was a thing.
MerToo
Yeah you have lots of concrete roads. It causes the howl of the old BatMobile tyres on corners. Asphalt makes more of a roar, less howl.
foxmichaels
Original road was cement. Cement started to give way, so they asphalted over it. That didn't last long.
MrFancyPanzer
I guess it's cheaper but cement has way less traction than asphalt.
foxmichaels
Yeah. The one thing cement has over asphalt is that it lasts a LOT longer, overall. (When not in weather-hell, at least.)
CK1987
It’s also far more susceptible to temperature fluctuation. Great in an all weather state
RedComet313
From MI, can confirm 10000%
DidNotInhale
Blimey
anim8rjb
I like how the highways instantly get better the second you drive into Ohio.
HasAnyoneSeenMySon
It's great how you can tell that you've left the state just by the feeling of the road
jenniferlawrenceisabear
lets keep posting memes until they fix the roads
DylanIsBored
There are certain roads I don't take rn for fear of totaling my car
TacoShaman
My road was in such bad shape people were driving in the turn and bike Lanes, the dirt roads are better.
dbs2902
Girlfriends from Michigan, we make a trip up every summer, can also confirm 10000%
DidNotInhale
Crickey
DylanIsBored
If you think its bad in the summer, don't come in the spring
FoxyToast
Why is this?
masterchief9995
Also salt trucks put the plow down to low.
Sirducky20
Ground under road freezes makes road swell up, then ground melts road goes down. Road doesn't like that one bit.
PlatypusInterrobang
Winters and budgets. Water/snow freezes, melts, refreezes then expands. This combined with tons of salt weakens roads and widens cracks. 1/
PlatypusInterrobang
We are also a state that has not been able supply Flint with clean, lead free water since 2014. 2/
PlatypusInterrobang
If we can't afford to stop giving people lead poisoning, how can anyone expect us to afford road maintenance?
Xaneph
I hate to throw facts out here...but this is due to ice damage. In climates that have 4 seasons this is just a part of life.
Xaneph
Snow melts during the day and gets into the pavement then freezes and expands at night. That tears up the roads.
awenthol
Not arguing this, but Michigan doesn't put the necessary resources into tearing the cracks or holes in the first place, to prevent.
Woppledorf
Stupid state is two pieces!
BaddyOneShoe
You're probably a bitter Wisconsinite that cant get over the chunk of state we have that should be yours. Go cry in your cheese.
RangerOfKessig
That means there's more to love!
graffiti62
Ha! State money just kind of stops happening north of M-32...
Fuckititsausername
To be fair, a small car weighs thousands of pounds and that's without your mom in it.
Hazel232
BOOM here’s the comment I was waiting for
GyroPunk
My alma matter has cobblestone road from the 1400s that has full size buses and car traffic daily in N Scotland,You can build better roads
Fuckititsausername
Not the argument I'm making, but you're not wrong. But it roads are constructed the way they are because we have to send trucks state to
Fuckititsausername
State in an oversized country. It has to be done timely and extremely rapidly. To give you an idea on exactly how much stone it would take,
Fuckititsausername
I'd send you a map of US roads. Not to mention those style roads would create a higher demand for auto parts that people already can't
Fuckititsausername
Afford and plowing those roads would be miserable and expensive. We used to use concrete slabs on our interstates, but people decided it was
krevtrocity
I would like to see our roads last 1800 years
Fuckititsausername
Me too.
EmanNiemThcin
A horse drawn cart can easily weigh half a ton. More if the cart is sturdier and ox-drawn.
Fuckititsausername
Yeah but wheels and chemical corrosion are vastly different then they used to be. The wheels of a wagon are thinner and less abrasive than 1
Fuckititsausername
Modern tires. On top of which, gasoline, diesel, and other various chemicals most rides leak actually eat away at pavement 2
Fuckititsausername
Whereas when we used wagons, we didn't have corrosive chemicals slowly leaking out onto roadways plus big rigs and school busses weren't 3
Fuckititsausername
Exactly common place back then. Besides that, I've seen many a vehicle that weigh one ton plus before load and much more after
EmanNiemThcin
I think you'll find that horse piss can be fairly corrosive.
EmanNiemThcin
The opposite: Smaller surface area (thinner wheels) -> higher pressure -> higher abrasion. Especially if the wheel is harder than the road.
EmanNiemThcin
(iron rimmed wheel vs. rubber tire)
Fuckititsausername
Have you ever heard of tread? Have you seen the amount of idiots driving on mud tires and and snow tires on clear weather?
whalewatchers
Guys that's why taxes are important
asspickle
wanna see my pickle tax?
JesusMowsMyLawn
Michigan collected $27.8 billion in taxes in 2016. Guys that's why eradicating government waste is just as important.
Raptor65
Pay enough taxes. It all goes to bombing stuff and the F-35 instead of infrastructure and healthcare.
firemandave6024
Michigan increased the fuel tax for road repairs. But they still throw cheap asphalt in holes on concrete roads. :|
Snooj
Except the government still picks the lowest bidder.
MelancholicacR
Same thing happens in russia. Lowest bidder. Type "Russian roads" in the Google image search. Sorry guys but it seems we live equally badly.
ClapTrapConjurerOfTheDarkArts
Yah all of america has a shit infrastructure, we simply dont put the money we need to maintain it into our system anymore.
MerToo
Hey to be fair the US has more important priorities like murdering civilians on the other side of the world and enriching the Koch boys...
MFDork
Part of the problem is that you've got abortion, LGBT and other minority rights, and gun control dominating the narrative so nothing happens
MerToo
I quite like the way the Swiss just spam referendums. "Here kids, it's a democracy, d'you want X? Yes or no? Right, gotcha, done."
Muffdiver9
Ah, yes, of course, all the liberal's fault, the classic well reasoned argument supported by facts.
MFDork
Oh not at all. I am pretty far left. But we focus on divisive social issues that can't get supermajorities in either legislative branch 1/
MFDork
to the exclusion of the basic business of government, like infrastructure, that should be easy to agree on. 2/2
mineovermatter
Not true. I've lived in places w/fine infrastructure.Its a local politics issue.Why Katrina was so deadly-for decades local politics ->
mineovermatter
Prevented improvements because no one wanted to pay for it on their watch
DarthVaderDidNothingWrong
Isn't that because many US voters think anything but reducing spending and taxes is almost a crime?
stratus41298
We haven't in a long time. I live in a pretty rich town and even ours are showing alot of wear.
pointsForNothing
There goes your "God's own country" with your free market capitalism. Some things like infrastucture should stay in government's hands.
DrzBa42
Who the ACTUAL FUCK downvotes infrastructure as central government responsibility? You enshrined right to freedom of movement. That costs.
spaghettiThunderbolt
Because roads aren't privatized here. It's not a bad sentiment, just blatantly wrong.
ThePresidentOfStrayaOFFICIAL
I think OP’s saying that those wanting privatisation complain about taxes AND complain about poor infrastructure. But you can’t have it all.
SFMGifs
Washington state. Fucking amazing roads. Now if we didn’t have pointless triple round abouts...
IWasInThePool
It's not the money, it's that there's too much. Americans hate density, so we have to build tons of infrastructure to serve few people.
RachTrap
hate density? serve few people? Majority of population live in densse cities. the other half life in rural towns that also end up growing
LeftBauer20
Went to Zurich. Everything was pristine and densely populated. Even the small towns were pristine.
mineovermatter
Hahahahaha "hate density". I guess NY,LA,Dallas,Chicago,Atlanta,Miami,Philly,San Antonio,Houston,etc don't exist?
IWasInThePool
They do, but half the U.S. population is rural:
And even the half that's urban, doesn't live in NYC-levels
IWasInThePool
of density, especially in terms of infrastructure. I mean, Houston? Really? Houston is a sprawling mess, more than even LA.
hardytardigrade
It's fear of government spending. What percentage of our infrastructure serves few people yet still needs to be aggressively maintained?
moto192834
Every road. A car based transportation system is inefficient. But you’re right, it’s fear of govt spending too (& poor spending decisions)
hardytardigrade
I'd assume roads break down primarily with use, so those with fewer cars require less maintenance. But you are right, cars are inefficient.
moto192834
Weather is the main asphalt destroyer. Snow can destroy a road in one winter
Asteru
By that logic, all major cities should be pristine since they’re densely populated while rural roads are horrible. Not the case. It’s money
BitchButcher
Better get rid of trains and trams ... cars need more gas!
BuckeyeBTH
Part of it, also, in my home state the inspectors are not allowed to stop the construction company to fix problems. Just note them for later
Morg729
But we can afford to build a wall
kittybuttwiggle
Maybe instead of solar panels you can put housing on the wall.
chamilitary
A wall is federally funded. Local roads are built and maintained using local and state funds. Which costs more than a wall.
MFDork
A wall is also the kind of idea we'd chuckle and roll our eyes at if someone with a traumatic brain injury proposed it.
HoboStabWound
This president you hate is actually pushing an infrastructure bill, which you want. Be fair and give him credit.
DrzBa42
You should fix the roads & make the cars pay for it. Seriously, add an infrastructure tax - 5% to tyre, sorry “tire” prices, 10% snowchains
Grenther
In NL one of the things they do is tax extra on gasoline. For infrastructure maintenance, extra reason to get more efficient cars and more
ObnoxiousCommenter
Just the driving? Does Michigan have ANY redeeming qualities? It's one of those states that could disappear and no one would notice.
WARHAMMER405
We have Vernors, Koegel's hot dogs, Dearborn Ham, Jet's Pizza, Hudsonville ice cream, and Jackson & Detroit style Coney Dogs.
WeazleXIII
We got faygo
011100000110111101101111
i just checked the username and it all makes sense now...
klean9
I’m from Michigan. I have a boat. Do you have a boat!
v
rudejohn
I moved to Michigan from elsewhere. Good standard of living, beautiful nature, excellent universities. Shit roads. Detroit politics sucks.
klean9
I live in Petoskey so suck it!
v
ghettoalpaca
Besides a ton of nature, no. we suck at healthcare, infrastructure, govt, gun control, etc
CirclejerqueDuSoleil
Honestly, we should just move everyone out of Michigan and let the rest of nature finish taking it over. It'd be neat.
ghettoalpaca
it would make a hell of a sanctuary. least till winter killed off half the animals lol
CirclejerqueDuSoleil
That's the definition of winter. Yet they survive, regardless.
butthurtnevergetsbetter
Well, doesn't that mean they don't bother anyone? That's kinda nice.
Marsmelons
Oh :C
LawFiveGuy
That sounds like what Andy said to Bender in the Breakfast Club
SwedishKarl
Kinda like California, only people would notice and celebrate
orbitn
No, but soon Robocop will make it all better
tft57
Wow! You are obnoxious. And ignorant.
8gigsofshark
Bomb-ass cherries
CrazyGuyOnABike
Recreation in the UP is excellent. The highways there are actually super bike friendly.
devilsgolfcourse
Perfect username for such a comment.
notbannedyet
Like Wyoming did
TheBlueEmpire
Don't make up words dumbass
trashyTrashpanda
What’s a Wyoming
mskittentreats1973
We have Better Made chips in Detroit.
icky78
We have Downey's chips out of Waterford. Really good.
gvdz33
Oh just a little something called The Great Lakes
Passauf
Lake MI recreation is a plus
minzeyman422
And Vernor’s too
Notmyjobtoday
Yeah. We got water that's almost drinkable. In the lakes, not the pipes, obviously
theOmazingJobyTheDog
I don't get the hate. I am from West Michigan and I love it here.
UmmonPrime
northern MI is some of the most beautiful scenery in the US.
ThatuldoPig
True story. We play a couple festivals up there and it's wonderful
EndersdoyouthinkthisisafuckingGame
*world. Fixed that for ya. ;)
MTUCache
All of MI which is more than 50 miles outside of Detroit/Pontiac/Flint is the closest place to paradise I've ever lived.
LlamaLingo
Why?
MTUCache
Gorgeous landscapes. Gigantic forests. Crystal clear inland lakes. Cabins. Hunting. Farms. The Great Lakes. Lighthouses. All four seasons.
BaddyOneShoe
Meijers
aflarge
To be fair, how many cars, trucks, and semis drive over that old roman road every day :P
percivaldanvers
What about cart wheels? Seems like all that weight concentrated in such a narrow space would be murder on most surfaces.
aflarge
Not even remotely on the same scale :P
Chaxinitus
Not the traffic, it's the freeze-thaw-freeze that MI gets
tacoparlor
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/17/19/320x160/landscape-1494260650-jurassic-park-over-our-head.gif
Woppledorf
2... it’s at least 2.
jantschipantschi
my first thought! well played
StealthyNinja7
At least 12
byohzzrd
Some cobble roads in Rome have been in continuous use since Caesar, but driving on cobbles sucks.
RetardVillain
Yes
RachTrap
also big stones are a lot more durable than asphalt.
steikewaffel
Lets all hate on the Roman roads!!
hippocampus
what did they ever do for us?!
dashers
I drive down a Roman road on a daily basis. It doesn't look like the above as it's been upgraded to be the same as other roads.
PartaVictoriisPax
zucchino
Our roads are not engineered to last like Roman roads because it isn't a sensible use of resources now to do so. Not because we can't.
GyroPunk
My alma matter has cobblestone road from the 1400s that has full size buses and car traffic daily in N Scotland,You can build better roads
readerreaper
Enough to go have sex with OP's mum.
Dayrest
Some of the carts that the romans would have pulled along there would weight up to 1 ton. On smaller, thinner wheels.
OverpricedCrayon
The fat American tourists is about as heavy, so figure out those tourist numbers and you have your answer.
EmanNiemThcin
Hundreds of thousands of carriages over the course of several centuries?
whatsisname
Carriages don't weigh 80,000 pounds, and road wear goes up with the 4th power of the vehicle weight.
aflarge
Not to mention the overwhelming difference in quantity, and travel speed.
EmanNiemThcin
Quantity? Ancient Rome (The city alone not the entire empire) had a higher population than Detroit. (Over a million inhabitants)
NorthWestOutdoorsman
Also like to know what percentage of their roads still exist. I'm sure there's a ton in shit condition due to various reasons.
poketess38
Ever watch the episode of top gear in Italy? Clarkson gets stuck driving on a really old cobblestone road... With a super car I believe.
poketess38
It got bad
carrot1sie
Can't find a % but at the height of the Roman Empire 250,000 miles of road were made and 50,000 of that were 'stone paved'. 1/2
carrot1sie
Many of those roads have been kept up and eventually turned onto modern roadways 2/2
carrot1sie
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-beautiful-network-of-ancient-roman-roads.amp
Dagordae
Plus climate. Constant thawing and freezing is rather destructive.
EmanNiemThcin
You realise that Europe, and yes even Italy, experiences winter, right?
tomyironmane
Difference being the Romans didn't fuck around when they built roads. Ever seen where the roadbed under one of those stops?
tomyironmane
I think the thinnest road the Romans laid was a meter thick.
Camelspotting
You need to go pretty far north to get winters that rival Michigan.
EmanNiemThcin
Are you for real? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alps
illogicalphallusies
Canada has winters colder than michigan, our roads arent that bad
tomyironmane
Because Canada doesn't suck ass like democrats suck ass. You ought to build a wall and make America pay for it, damn...
lDanielHolm
Really? Pretty far north to rival Michigan? With an annual low temperature during winter of about 3 degrees celsius? Yeah wow, so cold, man.
catfoodstudios
3 Degrees celsius is actually fairly destructive to roads as your on an expansion release cycle more often.
Camelspotting
It's not about cold, it's about temperature swings and snowfall and sleet and ice and general crappiness.
Snooj
We still have cobblestone streets in Maine in better shape than the asphalt streets near them that get repaved every few years.
Wankathon
I'd still argue roman roads are stronger, they're very deep and literally stone,
hippocampus
but less comfortable and louder to drive on. with 60mph it prob sounds like a starting jet.
tomyironmane
So you put a sealing and smoothing layer on top of one... and flog the back off the fucks who built the shitty road you just had to replace.
Wankathon
Yeah of course, but in terms of endurance, we'll a Modern road wouldn't last 2000 years in the same climate.
Madethisusernameforonereason
Most of them didn't.
Wankathon
Due to humans destroying them for materials though