Rural Michigan counties turn failing roads to gravel

Chicago Tribune ^ | June 12, 2009 | Tim Martin

[In veno, veritas]

Using the “greater public” argument is what got our banks and automobile manufacturers nationalized. Tolls work very effectively and technology has allowed cars to continue without stopping and make people pay proportionally to their use (economic efficiency). The street names thing seems a little odd, especially since people can do that on their own private roads now. As far as the NIMBY types, they exist now because what the government has done through eminent domain (abuse). Yet somehow, the Great Northern Railroad was built without issue (like many roads).

[Beagle8U]

“Anything that makes it a little tougher for the city slickers to get to the good fishin’ holes is AOK with me.”

Bingo! I like gravel roads. There is no reason to pave anything but highways. The side roads should all be gravel.

I like living on a slow speed, little traveled, gravel road.

They are better for families and for wildlife. Kids can walk the dog or ride their bike without getting run over.

Birds of all kinds need grit to live. Without grit no amount of winter feed will keep them alive.

Just one big winter ice storm can lock wildlife from the grit for weeks and they will starve.

They can always find grit on a gravel road because the snow plow will dislodge enough, even after ice storms, to keep them going.( Think, more turkeys, pheasants, and partridge.)

Fewer animals are run over when people slow down. They might even see some wildlife or have time to wave at a neighbor!

[KC_Conspirator]

Ah yes, with democrats and liberals in power, the country is once again regressing into a 2nd world nation because of their policies.

[mysterio]

As goes Michigan's crumbling economy

Outsourcing has gutted a lot of my area, too. Cheap stuff isn't cheap.

[commish]

I guess these new and improved gravel roads will lead to the new and improved bulldozed cities.

Let's party like it's 1899!

[nayjay]

I'm still trying to understand what the big deal is. Michigan has a total of 120,256 miles of roadway and about 50 miles have been reverted in the last three years. Is this really a significant bit of information. Is the rest of the country suppose to feel sorry for Michigan because they had to gravel 50 miles of roadway. Poor people. Good thing they voted for Daddy Obama, he'll fix it for them.

[Abathar]

I grew up on gravel roads in Michigan, cut my teeth driving on them too. Had no problems at all once you stopped being nervous if you fishtail a little, I would still prefer a rear wheel drive car for it also.

And as a kid yes, walking old gravel roads with a wrist rocket was a right of passage on back roads for kids like me.

[Moonman62]

Does anyone else see this as a sign that the standard of living here in this country is trying to be lowered?

The standard of living inside the Beltway is better than ever.

[GOPsterinMA]

Da! The Politburo is doing very well!