The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) is facing one of the most difficult challenges it has seen in years as it attempts to maintain its 800 miles of gravel roads.
The unpaved roads have been battered by record January snow falls followed immediately by an unseasonable thaw and heavy rains, followed by more heavy snow and sub-freezing weather, leading into more freeze/thaw and heavy rains in February.
‘This is just about the worst weather combination we could face for our gravel roads,? stated RCOC Highway Maintenance Director Tom Meszler. ‘We had rain after the first of the year and did not have an opportunity to grade before the gravel roads froze. We have been grading on overtime when possible. However, given the current conditions, grading does not eliminate the holes because the roads remain frozen just below the surface.?
Meszler added RCOC crews are attempting to fill the holes with gravel, but the recent rain and snow melt simply wash the gravel out.
Also, RCOC simply does not have the manpower or budget to put new gravel down on the entire surface of many of the gravel roads.
‘We’re doing everything we possibly can, but we simply cannot solve the problem at present in many locations,? Meszler added. ‘At best, we can improve a few of the worst areas.?
That means many gravel roads are likely to remain very rough until the weather warms up enough to allow RCOC to grade the roads. It is not clear when that is likely to happen.
In the mean time, Meszler encouraged motorists to slow down on gravel roads.
‘If you need to drive on a gravel road, give yourself extra time to get where you’re going. We’re doing the best we can, given the conditions, so please bear with us,? Meszler said.
Meszler noted the problems with gravel roads are growing worse each year in Oakland County because of all the development taking place in formerly rural parts of the county.
‘All the new development means significantly increased traffic, and therefore wear and tear, on the gravel roads,? he explained. ‘However, road commissions are funded primarily through the state-collected gas tax and vehicle registration fee, not through property taxes. So, we do not receive any additional funding as a result of the development, though we are expected to deal with the substantially increased need for road maintenance caused by the new development.?