Detroit roads named worst in state on the heels of Woodward Avenue national honor

November 9, 1:50 PMDetroit Landmarks ExaminerAndra Miliacca

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Cruising Woodward at night
A. Miliacca

The Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA) today issued a list of the state’s worst roads, naming Detroit as the worst municipality with 586 lane miles in poor condition. Overall, Michigan has about 287,780 lane miles across the state. Lane miles add each lane to the length calculation.

Just last month Woodward Avenue (M-1) was designated an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Woodward Avenue is a landmark road, one of 5 major avenues radiating outward from Detroit’s center. Woodward Avenue carries the distinction of having the first mile of concrete pavement in the nation. Each August it hosts the Woodward Dream Cruise celebrating the cruising era of the 1950s and 60s.

Regarding Detroit and Wayne County as having the worst roads, Mike Nystrom, co-chair of the Michigan Transportation Team (MTT) said, "This isn't a case of road agencies not doing their jobs. Michigan's local road systems are collapsing because funding continues to plummet." Nystrom is also vice president of government and public relations for MITA.

The Michigan Asset Management Council Annual Report of Roads & Bridges evaluated federally funded roads in 83 counties and almost 1,800 municipalities across Michigan. In a single year, the percentage of roads in poor condition increased from 25 percent in 2007 to 32 percent in 2008.

The findings point to poor conditions in more than 17,378 lane miles of federal-aid-eligible roads. Federal aid roads are those eligible for at least some federal dollars in addition to state dollars. Paradoxically, they are often considered the best maintained roads because of their high traffic volumes.

Cities with the worst roads:
Detroit (586 miles)
Grand Rapids (200 miles)
Ann Arbor (189 miles)
Flint (165 miles
Livonia (143 miles).

Counties with the worst roads:
Wayne (1,841 miles)
Oakland (1,292 miles)
Genesee (1,216)
Washtenaw (977 miles)
Calhoun (932 miles).
 

Interesting historical fact: 
Eight Michigan highways began as Native American trails:

• US 2 (from Sault Ste. Marie to Green Bay)
• I 75 (from Detroit to Saginaw)
• I 94 (from Detroit to St. Joseph)
• I 96 (from Detroit to Grand Rapids)
• I 94 (from Detroit to Port Huron)
• US 41 (from L'Anse to Marquette)
• US 12 (from Ypsilanti to Chicago)

Related article:

Woodward Avenue designated an All-American Road

For more information:

Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association (MITA)

Michigan Transportation Team (MTT)

U.S. Department of Transportation

Michigan Asset Management Council Annual Report of Roads & Bridges
to see the full report and listings

The Center for Shared Solutions and Technology Partnerships

Drive Michigan Campaign


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