MATT WHETSTONE | CADILLAC NEWS
Plett Road in Haring Township is an example of a crumbling road that has no funding source for a fix.
TV show highlights state’s crumbling infrastructure
By Matt Whetstone
CADILLAC - What does the future hold for Americans?
A History Channel program exploring the state of the U.S. roads, bridges, sewage systems, dams and levees is answering that question. And a big part of the program titled "Crumbling of America" focuses on problems in Michigan.
"It’s no surprise that Michigan was selected to highlight the dangers a crumbling transportation infrastructure pose," said Mike Nystrom, vice president of government and public relations for the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association. "The History Channel visited Michigan back in April, and filmed significant portions of our roadways to use in the program. We were even contacted to provide more footage of our deteriorating roadways after they wrapped filming.
"If this isn’t a wake-up call to our legislators, I don’t know what is," he said.
Alan Cooper, manager at the Wexford County Road Commission, said the two-hour program is a "must see" for lawmakers. The program next airs at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
A study done by the Michigan Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Michigan’s roads and bridges a D rating, noting 38 percent of Michigan’s roads are in poor condition and 28 percent of its bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete.
Cooper mentioned Harvey Bridge, 14 Road and Plett Road as well-used roads that are in need of repair. But funding just isn’t there, Cooper said.
"We’re seeing the same problems up here (as in Detroit)," Cooper said. "We’ve had some roads we couldn’t afford to fix that we turned back to gravel about four years ago."
Cooper said revenue dropped 4 percent from last year - which equates to $140,000 - and it’s projected to drop 5 percent next year.
Without money, Cooper said the road commission can only be in maintenance mode, which eventually leads to very costly repairs. The federal and state government are cutting back and, to make matters worse, the loss of state-shared revenue is drying up township dollars to partially fund projects, too.
Declining road conditions can be costly as they could deter tourists and businesses, Cooper said.
"It’s been suggested that every state legislator should watch that program," Cooper said.
mwhetstone@cadillacnews.com | 775-NEWS (6397)
Crumbling of America
• About: America’s infrastructure is collapsing. Tens of thousands of bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. A third of the nation’s highways are in poor or mediocre shape. Massively leaking water and sewage systems are creating health hazards and contaminating rivers and streams. Weakened and under-maintained levees and dams tower over communities and schools. And the power grid is increasingly maxed out, disrupting millions of lives and putting entire cities in the dark. The Crumbling of America explores these problems using expert interviews, on location shooting and computer generated animation to illustrate the kinds of infrastructure disasters that could be just around the bend.
Running time: 120 minutes
Next airing: Sunday at 5 p.m.
