State roads, county roads, city roads...potholes can show up anywhere and they come in all shapes and sizes. So where are the worst potholes in the U.P.?
Upper Michigan’s Source asked, and you answered. More than 30 people commented on our Web site about the pothole problem, and here are the five of the worst voted by you.
County Road 557 between Arnold and Gwinn received the most votes and is littered with potholes from start to finish.
In Rapid River, County Road 513 also has more than its fair share on both sides of the road, causing problems for drivers.
In Marquette, both the Trowbridge and Werner Street have been giving drivers fits as they try to avoid getting flat tires from the potholes.
Other problem areas for drivers in the U.P. are US-41 in Hancock and US-2 in Bessemer.
Susan Wainio works in Bessemer and got a flat tire driving on US-2 last month.
"On that day, it's a good thing that my tire didn't just go flat right then and there because I wouldn't have made it to work on time,” said Wainio. “So it’s very frustrating, and sometimes when you're traveling and you can't even avoid the pothole because you can cause another traffic accident."
State roads and highways like US-2 and US-41 are maintained by the Michigan Department of Transportation, and the freezing and thawing during spring causes potholes.
"People really don't care whether a road is a city street, a county road, or a state highway,” said MDOT Communications Representative James Lake. “They just want it fixed, and that's our motivation to keep those roads in as good of condition as possible."
County road commissions are in charge of maintaining county roads, but they have been largely handcuffed in what they can do by budget cuts.
Funding for the Dickinson County Road Commission hasn't changed in 13 years despite an increased demand.
"The problem, like everything, is money,” said Dickinson County Road Commission Managing Director Tim Hammill. “Patching material has gone up so much in price, but we still fix them with the best ability that we can."
Some drivers think the only solution is to start over and repave the streets.
"I'm from Detroit originally and know what the trucks do to the highways down there, so it’s not any different here,” said driver Ken Deangelis. “They keep trying to patch them, but patching doesn't work. You've got to rip it up and redo it and that costs money."
That’s something state and local governments don't have much of these days, so drivers will just have to stay alert. Some of these U.P. potholes are going to be around for a while.