I-69 in Michigan

Always have to smile when people worry about going to Alaska because of the roads. Alaska has nothing on the potholes, road joints, overpass joints & gouges in the surface of the interstates.

Worst roads are in the southern half of the lower peninsula. Roads up in the northern half of the L.P. and the U.P. are beautiful in comparison and are really nice for driving. Wish all the roads in Michigan were that nice.

Dan

garysol wrote:
Actually Davison is where I was coming from. The only damage was a lanp shade that didnt survive the trip..

ken56 wrote:
Unfortunately I have to come up to Flushing/Davison in July. There is no good side road to take as an alternate either or I would do that. I guess I will make sure things are battened down and tires are inflated properly and go slow. I know 85-90 is a common speed for people there, glad I moved out.

Are you a C2C member and did you stay at Lakeshore Resort? That is our home park and will be staying there when we come. We used to live in Davison and only 7 miles away from the park and joined when we started RVing and we used it for 2 seasons all we could. Then we moved to TN and discovered it's not worth trying to transfer our membership. We still visit relatives in the area and still use C2C properties when we travel so it's all good.

Actually Davison is where I was coming from. The only damage was a lanp shade that didnt survive the trip..

ken56 wrote:
Unfortunately I have to come up to Flushing/Davison in July. There is no good side road to take as an alternate either or I would do that. I guess I will make sure things are battened down and tires are inflated properly and go slow. I know 85-90 is a common speed for people there, glad I moved out.

I-69 westbound west of US127 was poorly constructed about 20 years ago. First time I was on that section with my old 5th wheel I thought something was wrong with my rig. I avoid that section when possible and use US127 around the east side of Lansing.

I-69 south of Lansing is falling apart. A major reason for this is the heavy truck traffic. Michigan allows the highest gross vehicle weights (GVW) in the Midwest. Most states allow an 80,000 pound GVW while Michigan allows 160,000. This is the result of the auto industry's need for steel and is a left-over allowance for the industry since the 60s. Trucking companies will try to tell you that additional axels/wheels spreads out the heavy weight, but that is BS. Other states in the frost/freeze states do not allow such heavy weights and their roads last longer. Michigan's falls apart quicker than their roads.

Unfortunately I have to come up to Flushing/Davison in July. There is no good side road to take as an alternate either or I would do that. I guess I will make sure things are battened down and tires are inflated properly and go slow. I know 85-90 is a common speed for people there, glad I moved out.

ZINGERLITE wrote:

Trekkar wrote:
The trucking industry caused 99% of road damage, but they only pay 35% of maintenance costs. Data from the Congressional Budget Office.
Until they pick up the slack, there is no way that additional taxes on fuel will make up the difference. It's estimated that (1) fully loaded 18-wheeler does the same damage as 9600 cars.

I can't remember the last time i saw an open weigh station. Who's regulating what they haul?

Moot point. If those figures are correct just tax them 2/3 more. But keep in mind they will not be the ones paying it, you will every time you purchase something. And it will still be spent on protecting habitat for the Hairy Chested Nutscratcher instead of the roads.

Trekkar wrote:
The trucking industry caused 99% of road damage, but they only pay 35% of maintenance costs. Data from the Congressional Budget Office.
Until they pick up the slack, there is no way that additional taxes on fuel will make up the difference. It's estimated that (1) fully loaded 18-wheeler does the same damage as 9600 cars.

I can't remember the last time i saw an open weigh station. Who's regulating what they haul?

The trucking industry caused 99% of road damage, but they only pay 35% of maintenance costs. Data from the Congressional Budget Office.
Until they pick up the slack, there is no way that additional taxes on fuel will make up the difference. It's estimated that (1) fully loaded 18-wheeler does the same damage as 9600 cars.

Michigan has higher fuel taxes than most of the surrounding states. But, what really frosts me is coming back into the state from the south on I-75...

There is the "Welcome to Michigan" sign and "BAM" there is the worst road you have seen in several hundred miles....

Some welcome - huh?

Matt