Motorists have faced more challenges than usual on gravel roads this winter, and the Road Commission for Oakland County is asking everyone for patience.
Unpaved roads were battered by record January snowfalls, followed immediately by an unseasonable thaw and heavy rains, followed by more heavy snow and subfreezing weather.
‘This is about the worst weather combination we could face for our gravel roads,? said Tom Meszler, the road commission’s highway maintenance director, in an RCOC prepared statement. ‘We had rain after the first of the year and did not have an opportunity to grade before the gravel roads froze.?
Crews have attempted to fill some holes with gravel, but the combination of rain and snow melt tend to wash out the gravel. Lack of manpower means other roads haven’t even received the temporary fix, officials said.
In addition to the inconvenience to those who live on such roads, the problems have affected response by the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department in both Independence and Springfield townships.
Lt. Dale LaBair, commander of the Independence Township substation, said one of the worst locations has been Pine Knob Road north of Greenview Drive in the vicinity of Bailey Lake Elementary School. A patrol car got stuck in that ‘hole,? he said.
Sgt. Mark Gardner, commander of the Springfield Township substation, said the road commission had to rescue a couple of his patrol cars this winter.
‘I’m glad I don’t live on a gravel road,? said Independence Township Supervisor Dave Wagner at the March 1 township board meeting. ‘I’ve been on them and, oh my, are they bad.?
Springfield Township Supervisor Collin Walls said the township staff is already in the habit of referring road complaints to the county, but he is aware that the problem will not be easily solved.
‘Right now, they’re rough,? Walls said. ‘They’re going to get worse.?
Local officials recently attended a meeting with RCOC Managing Director Brett Bair, who reported plans for fast response when the weather breaks.
Public Information Officer Craig Bryson said the commission is spending $35,000 to lease five additional road graders, with crews ready to work 24 hours a day as conditions allow.
Indeed, this past weekend’s thaw allowed for some grading, but the expectation of dipping temperatures set the stage for another potentially frustrating cycle.
‘Hopefully, there will be a small enough gap [between grading and freezing] that it will freeze in a smoother condition,? Bryson said.
March 7 was the day set by officials to begin enforcing seasonal weight limits on many gravel roads. The law is suspended during winter months, but the extra weight allowed is blamed for some of the complications.
Meszler said problems on gravel roads are growing worse each year in Oakland County because of development in formerly rural areas.
‘All the new development means significantly increased traffic and, therefore, wear and tear on the gravel roads,? he said. Since the road commission gets its funding primarily through state-collected gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees, increased property taxes do not help with the increased expectations for road maintenance.
Paved roads are experiencing the seasonal pothole problem, as well. Recent sheriff reports included three vehicles having blown tires and bent rims from one pothole near Maybee and Clintonville roads over a two-day period, for example, and Clarkston Police Chief Ernest Combs last week said a driver on Clarkston Road had air bags deploy upon hitting a pothole.
Bryson said the combination of problems has crews scrambling whenever weather allows.
‘We’re literally splitting our time between pothole patching and grading,? he said.
Walls said there is a silver lining of sorts with this year’s weather.
‘I haven’t heard a speeding complaint on a gravel road this winter.?
The Road Commission for Oakland County handles road maintenance in Independence and Springfield townships. For road problems deemed as an emergency or potentially harmful, call the Department of Citizen Services at 1-877-858-4804 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. weekdays, or at 248-858-4895 after hours and weekends.