Rural Mich. counties turn failing roads to gravel

Rural Mich. counties turn failing roads to gravel


June 12, 2009 - 4:43PM
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Some Michigan counties have turned a few once-paved rural roads back to gravel to save money.

More than 20 of the state's 83 counties have reverted deteriorating paved roads to gravel in the last few years, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. The counties are struggling with their budgets because tax revenues have declined in the lingering recession.

Montcalm County converted nearly 10 miles of primary road to gravel this spring.

The county estimates it takes about $10,000 to grind up a mile of pavement and put down gravel. It takes more than $100,000 to repave a mile of road.

Reverting to gravel has happened in a few other states but it is most typical in Michigan. At least 50 miles have been reverted in the state in the past three years.

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Tractors4u said:

All the county roads around here are asphalt. When I was growing up every couple of years the county would come through and spray with tar and then spread a light cover of gravel. It would pack down tight and smooth out. The busier roads were asphalt. The tar and gravel seems like a good compromise.

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PBinWA said:

A sign of the times . . .

(Note the comments are worth reading - kind of like a thread on FF)

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/roads-1363526-mich-counties.html

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