Encounter with tbe Michigan Highway Patrol

Regarding US-Highway v/s Interstate.....

In many states the US-Hwy may be county maintenance and the Interstate state, but more important than that is the Freeway is where folks like my brother spend most of their time.. He drove a Semi truck, Flat bed, Licensed for 160,000 pounds CGVW. That is one heavy truck and does serious damage to the road.. He did not spend nearly as much time on the US-Highways as he did the Interstate.

THUS, It is not better maintenance,,,,, It is less damage.

I mean if his route took him past home,, He parked about 100 yards OFF the interstate, if that. (Lot shared a line fence) Parked there myself a couple times.

Steveh, be careful what you wish for.We already have that in NY, and the roads are still in not great shape. ride a motorcycle where you can actually see the road and you will wonder what keeps the thing together. I have seen holes in the pavement and cracks that go through to the sub surface. And yet, we have about the highest tax and fee structure in the country. Truth is, in the north country, the roads do take a real beating from the weather.

Lowsuv wrote:
We very often use the US Highways instead of the Interstates .
This is not scientific but I have a " fuzzy feeling " that the US Highways in some states are better than the Interstates that run parallel .
It would be a different answer for each state .
In Michigan , are the Interstates better maintained than the US Highways ?
How about Indiana ?

US30 across IN was superb.

ChuckV1 wrote:

He smiled and yes you were, but I just wanted to also tell you that you were
the slowest Strohs truck I have seen all morning, please slow down a little
more and be safe, have a nice day. With that he smiled truned aound a walked
back to his car, I stood there for a moment in shock, got back in the truck
and left heeding his word

Chuck W5KAV

I recall one day I was pushing it a bit going to work (Detroit Freeway Post, dispatcher) and as I was one of the faster cars on the freeway a patrol car went past me.

Well when we all arrived in the locker room he mentioned something to me about being the fastest car (Save him) on the freeway... He said it did not look good.

I told him what looked worse was him passing me while I was the 2nd fastest car on the freeway.. He agreed, but said what looked even worse than that was the Stroh's truck passing HIM as he was passing Me while I was the 2nd fastest car on the freeway.

Which is why the Semi Driver got the ticket.

I have to say I liked that job, It got a bit worse when we centerlized in some ways and better in others.

But then the cliques and the bull droppings started and there was a mis-guided attempt to get me fired which backfired and got the conspirators 30 days no pay,, And I became eligable for early retirement and booked.. (Quit while the quitting was profitable).

But there were some darn good days there... And more than a few folks who truly wish I had not been there... But then.. Those folks all have something in common "Clients of the Department of Corrections" (IN Prison).

Great story! But roads are usually bad up North because the weather causes way more damage. Costs more to maintain those roads. Costs more to put chemicals down to keep roads safe in cold weather that in turn causes more damage. Its never ending. Down South, we just dont have those problems and can usually get away with chip and tar roads for the main roads, which is way cheaper. They dont even roll the stone, they rely on traffic to tamp it down. Big difference.

I married a girl in 1959 that was from Geneseo, IL (near Moline)and at that time the road in N. IN was under construction. In 55 years there has never been a trip through there when there was no construction.

We need to cut the truck weight limts in Michigan from double the average to average, and raise their annual fees from $50 to $500. But, the trucking lobby seems to have the state legislators in their pocket.

Our gas has sales tax on it ( I believe one of only 4 states to do so), and that money does NOT go for roads. We need to get more funding for roads. IMO raise the gas tax, drivers license fees, truck fees and registration fees.

I lived in Toledo OH. for a number of years, hauled steel and Strohs Beer out
of Detroit in the 70's. Roads we not good then in MI. and after dark when
leaving the brewry we were told not to stop for the two red lights between
the gate and I-75. The Detroit Police never stopped us even when sitting at
a light we would run in the farmers market.

I belonged at that time to a group called Highway Aid Radio Truck (H.A.R.T.)
which had a number of Mich. State police officers in it's ranks. Traveling
I-75 from Toledo to Detroit and I-94 west to Indiana I remember alot
of M.S.P well and talked with them over the CB often, they were always
helpful and friendly.

I was getting with the program one morning (sort of speeding LOL) and came
up on a MSP monitoring traffic, since I was going about 10mph over the
speed limit he came out and pulled me over. At that time you could get out
of the cab of the truck without them thinking you were a treat to them,
The office met me half way down the trailer and ask me if I new why he
had stopped me, I said yes I was going a little faster than I should have.
He smiled and yes you were, but I just wanted to also tell you that you were
the slowest Strohs truck I have seen all morning, please slow down a little
more and be safe, have a nice day. With that he smiled truned aound a walked
back to his car, I stood there for a moment in shock, got back in the truck
and left heeding his word

Chuck W5KAV

Lowsuv wrote:
We very often use the US Highways instead of the Interstates .
This is not scientific but I have a " fuzzy feeling " that the US Highways in some states are better than the Interstates that run parallel .
It would be a different answer for each state .
In Michigan , are the Interstates better maintained than the US Highways ?
How about Indiana ?

At this time in Indiana most state roads are better than the interstate. The interstates are an embarrassment. I won't use the interstate on my motorcycle around my area because it feels like I'm never on my seat! It seems like every week you read in the paper that the governor has done something else that causes the state to lose more federal funds.

We very often use the US Highways instead of the Interstates .
This is not scientific but I have a " fuzzy feeling " that the US Highways in some states are better than the Interstates that run parallel .
It would be a different answer for each state .
In Michigan , are the Interstates better maintained than the US Highways ?
How about Indiana ?