I think it has more to do with Michigan's weight limits. Michigan allows heavier trucks than any of the other 49 states. The Teamsters union keeps saying that has nothing to do with the condition of our roads - they claim it is the winter weather that is so rough on the roads.
Funny thing is - I've driven in Ontario, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Their winter's are just as bad as ours, or even worse, yet they don't have the crumbling road problem that Michigan does. They also have lower weight limits. Coincidence? I think not.
The streets near my house that have very heavy truck traffic to and from the auto factories fall apart months after they have been repaved. Roads that have no heavy truck traffic seem to last for decades without repair. Coincidence? I think not.
The Teamsters union gives tons of money to politicians who make sure the weight limits aren't lowered. Coincidence? I think not.
You'd think the Teamsters would want lighter weight limits. This would mean more trucks and more potential Teamsters. The real winners in Michigan are the owners of those 48 wheelers.
That would be true if there were perfectly flat roads. Roads are not perfectly flat and when the heavier trucks start bouncing around, the unit loadings of the tires in contact with the pavement temporarily increases, pounding the (insert favorite #2 word here) out of the roads.
This combined with a climate where most winter days go through a freeze/thaw cycle and lots of trucks, the roads don't last long.