Michigan Department of Transportation employees inspect concrete that has broken free of a retaining wall on a section of the Lodge Freeway, between McNichols and Meyers in Detroit. The wall has been deteriorating for years and is at risk of collapse. (Photo by HB Meeks/Tell Us Detroit)

   

Find more about Weather in Detroit, MI
 

HOME  I I  HI TECH NEWS  I SPORTS I CONTACT

 
 


Gov. Snyder visits crumbling hi-way in Detroit, offers plan on a fix

DETROIT, MI (Tell Us Det) - Gov. Rick Snyder got an up-close experience of the state's aging and crumbling hi-ways during a Monday morning rush hour visit to Detroit.

I've been bounced around pretty good," Snyder said this morning during a press briefing on the Lodge Freeway near Meyers and McNichols Rd. He was shown a retaining wall which is at risk of collapse and is in need of $1.5 million in repairs.

Snyder is stepping up pressure on lawmakers to boost Michigan's fuel taxes to raise $1.4 billion to improve roads and bridges.

Snyder says if legislators don't act during nine remaining voting days this year, the roads will just "get worse." The Republican governor met with political and business leaders in Southfield Monday to discuss road funding after touring deteriorating bridges in Detroit along the Lodge Freeway.

The visit was ahead of a roundtable discussion the governor and Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle are attending in Southfield later in the day. The discussion will focus on the need to implement a comprehensive plan to fix Michigan's crumbling infrastructure.

Michigan hasn’t updated its overall investment in roads since the gas tax – which currently is the primary source of revenue – was adjusted in 1997.

Basic elements of the governor’s plan that recently was approved by the state Senate include:

Eliminating the current 19 cents per gallon gasoline tax and 15 cents per gallon diesel tax at the pump and instead charge a tax on gasoline wholesalers.

Increasing the wholesale tax by 2 percent each year for three years, occurring every Jan. 1.

Doubling fines for violations of truck weight limits and dedicating half of that revenue to the state trunk line fund.

The plan will result in county road commissions, cities and villages seeing an average fund increase of 73 percent by 2018.

The lame-duck Legislature will be taking on the road funding issue this week.

The governor has offered a fair, comprehensive plan that will raise the necessary $1.2 billion annually for local and state infrastructure repairs. About 60 percent of the revenue will go to counties, cities and villages for their roads and bridges. He reviewed the initiative with roundtable participants at Lawrence Technological University after inspecting aging, deteriorating infrastructure along M-10/Lodge Freeway between McNichols and Meyers roads.

“The message from every corner of our state is clear,” Snyder said. “It’s time to fix the roads. Michiganders are tired of dodging potholes, whether it’s on the highway or in their neighborhoods. They’re fed up with getting socked with auto repair bills because Lansing has ignored the problem for too long.

Crumbling roads and bridges have a significant impact on the state. An estimated 100 lives can be saved each year if Michigan improves its infrastructure, according to a 2012 analysis by The Road Information Program (TRIP). In addition, one in nine bridges across Michigan is rated as “structurally deficient,” which means their conditions show deterioration. Family budgets take a big hit as well, with poor roads causing an average of $539 in additional annual vehicle operating costs due to repairs, tire wear and increased fuel consumption, TRIP reports.
 

 

 
   
Advertise with us

Traffic Alerts






 

 

All Rights Reserved ©  2003-2016 Tell Us Detroit
Disclaimer  Policy Statement
Site Powered By Tell Us USA News Network, LLC - Detroit, MI