It’s spring pothole season, and drivers are paying the price.
Craig Bryson, spokesperson Road Commission Oakland County, said drivers spend an average of $500 a year on car repairs from pothole damage.
Potholes get worse in springtime after roads freeze and thaw on roads built to last a few decades.
Damage when hitting potholes range from punctured tires, steering system misalignment’s and bent rims to damage to the entire exhaust and suspension systems of vehicles.
Al Deeby Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, local car dealership and repair facility, sees a lot of these types of repairs, especially this time of year. Those repairs cost hundreds of dollars, said Jim White from Al Deeby.
‘This is the season we see most types of these repairs,” said White.
Potholes in 2015 may be worse than ever due to several reasons from the age of roads to budget cuts in road funding.
A road construction boom hit Oakland County in the 1960s and 1970s. Once-rural roads in communities like Clarkston evolved over time from nothing but farm trails to what you see today, Bryson said.
Roads were built to last 15-40 years depending on what type of material, asphalt, or concrete, was used to build them.
Bryson said many roads in Oakland County are over their age limit and important road maintenance has been scaled back in recent years.
Bryson added the RCOC does not have a budget for each individual community.
There are six RCOC garages to cover the county. Each garage oversees designated areas, and supervisors and foreman of garages identify repair needs in their areas. The garage closest to Clarkston is on Clarkston Road in Orion Township.
Old roads are falling apart everywhere.
‘We do not have money for major projects like reconstructing older roads, so our roads are deteriorating,” Bryson said.
Instead of long-term repairs, quick pothole fixes are done instead.
RCOC funding decreased tremendously over years for many reasons. Bryson said unemployment was up and people were driving less, driving more fuel efficient vehicles and paying less in fuel taxes all impacted funding for roads.
Bryson said RCOC has cut 35 percent of staff since 2007.
Over the next 20 years, changes in federal laws requiring more fuel efficient vehicles will impact road budgets more.
RCOC’s 2015 budget, just over $100 million, is $7.2 million less than the 2014 budget mostly due to a decrease in federal money.
On May 5, voters will decide on raising Michigan sales tax increase from 6 to 7 percent. The tax increase would provide $1.3 billion for road repairs, tax cuts for low-income residents, $300 million in additional funding to schools, and millions more in funding to local governments.
Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle said even if voters say ‘yes? on May 5, funding to communities for roads could take almost a year.
Kittle proposed a partnership with the RCOC to supply $250,000 in material costs while the commission would provide equipment and labor at no cost.
To fund the partnership, Kittle added no programs would be cut, instead it would come from the township’s $300,000-$400,000 surplus.
If the partnership occurs, township officials can direct crews to road areas needing repair the most. Major streets like Clarkston, Waldon and Maybee would be a priority.
Township trustees Andrea Schroeder and David Lohmeier are leery of the partnership, fearing RCOC would complete repairs with township funding.
Schroeder said if the township pays up, the RCOC may spend less than they would have because they will assume the township will pay out of its general fund.
Lohmeier agreed, saying residents should get to vote on such a decision.
Bryson said a deal between the RCOC and Independence Township would not affect the amount of money spent for road repairs in the township.
Kittle said talks about communities joining forces to purchase their own road repair equipment is in the works.
To report potholes, call 877- 858-4804 during work hours and 248-858-4895 after hours.