On Saturday, February 26, this website surveyed roads around the lake, and then published the results. Included were photos of some of the worst examples. You can read the story by clicking here. For those concerned about hitting one of these craters, there should be some smiles today (Saturday, March 5). Jackson County Department of Transportation crews came to the lake late in the week and applied patch.
The topic is of particular interest if your car has ever been damaged by hitting one. You don’t have to go far to hear a story about a bent wheel, ripped tire, or worse yet, some problem with the suspension. It’s a relief the number of potholes has been reduced. Out of all the warning photos from last week’s story, here are three examples of before and after.
Eagle Point Road – before
Eagle Point Road – repaired
Lakeview at Eagle Point – before
Lakeview at Eagle Point – repaired
Hyde Road – before
Hyde Road – repaired
Potholes seem more troublesome this winter. The Michigan Department of Transportation describes the cause: “When roads that have been frozen all winter begin to thaw from the surface downward, melting snow and ice saturate the softened ground. During the spring thaw, the roadbed softened by trapped moisture beneath the pavement makes it more susceptible to damage. This also contributes to pothole problems already occurring due to this winter’s numerous freeze-thaw cycles.”
As a protective measure, the State orders weight restrictions. While these don’t apply to most who read this website, it does affect life for some truckers. For reference, here are the restrictions that go into affect on Monday.
If potholes are a sign that spring is on the way, this could be another. Ice with pools of water is piling up along the shoreline at the Township Park.
When will the big melt happen? It’s already underway in areas east of Eagle Point.
