Roads to Ruin: Towns Rip Up the Pavement

Here's what happens when we give in to the Teabaggers:

Paved roads, historical emblems of American achievement, are being torn up across rural America and replaced with gravel or other rough surfaces as counties struggle with tight budgets and dwindling state and federal revenue. State money for local roads was cut in many places amid budget shortfalls.

In Michigan, at least 38 of the 83 counties have converted some asphalt roads to gravel in recent years. Last year, South Dakota turned at least 100 miles of asphalt road surfaces to gravel. Counties in Alabama and Pennsylvania have begun downgrading asphalt roads to cheaper chip-and-seal road, also known as "poor man's pavement." Some counties in Ohio are simply letting roads erode to gravel.

The moves have angered some residents because of the choking dust and windshield-cracking stones that gravel roads can kick up, not to mention the jarring "washboard" effect of driving on rutted gravel.

But higher taxes for road maintenance are equally unpopular. In June, Stutsman County residents rejected a measure that would have generated more money for roads by increasing property and sales taxes.

more:

http://online.wsj.com/article/NA_WSJ_PUB:SB10001424052748704913304575370950363737746.html

Please God may the cars of millionaires come to grief on these roads. But I doubt it.

to whine about American roads. In fact, bad roads might mean a growth in small business in rural towns.

The rebirth of small towns and local businesses?

Don't expect the latter.

on a per capita basis, road taxes or regular windshield replacement?

Many states have been allowing roads to deteriorate for decades and the public winds up paying far more in vehicle repairs. It's completely counterproductive, but at least the fucknuts who are for lower taxes at all costs are placated.

Ignorant tea baggers dont understand that roads are crucial to commerce. They say they love and worship business, but they will be cutting business' throats when things start costing a lot more because semis and other business vehicles are destroyed by running over gravel.

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a cell tower at the bottom of the hill...

in rural parts of the country, anyway...

I live on one.

Huge trucks go up and down the road all the time.

Oil trucks...big 20 foot box trucks...semi's loaded with vinyl siding or the parts for pre-fab homes, the gravel trucks themselves, SUVs and ATVs and pickup trucks. Even some regular cars, although that's not always a good idea out here in the hilltowns.

Chipped/broken windshields...I've lived here for over 14 years. Only had one chipped windshield and it happened out on the main (paved) road. Brake deterioration is a problem, but only because my house is at 1300 feet elevation.

Road maintenance is simple...after mud season (which comes at the spring melt) the road is graded, then a layer of gravel is laid down and we're good to go the rest of the year. A dirt/gravel road is less likely to suffer from heavy rain for some reason. More troublesome are the gravel roads that have been paved part of the way. The rain runs along in the gullies and undercuts the asphalt.

My little dirt/gravel road is often in much better shape than the paved roads closer to town that are crumbling, full of pot holes and frost heaves.

I don't see it as a "poor man's road" at all.

your part of the country will soon see our present. Towns are now disbanding their police and fire departments, as there is no tax money for them - either we're going the way of Bell, Ca. where the town leaders are flat out stealing the money, or we're going the way of the old Soviet Union. I'm not sure which. Maybe both. :shrug:

Just lost several blocks of pavement last month in my neighborhood.

we wouldn't need your dern soshulism!

Think you will see anyone post up a sign like that next to one of these devolved roads? If there are any Dems in the area, they should get some plywood and some paint and get busy.

Protecting our freedoms. Keeping Americans safe. Global war against terror. We haven't been hit since 9/11. Just frat-boy hazing. It's not torture. With us or against us. Watch what you say.