'A banner year for potholes'

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Michigan Street goes straight through what is touted as Grand Rapids' future - the Medical Mile. But after a few days of temperatures swings it looks more like Washboard Way.

In 2012, the Grand Valley Metro Council labeled that stretch of Michigan Street a 7 on a scale of 10, where 10 is the best rating.

But this year, that rating is likely to fall a lot despite the fresh temporary patches. Local leaders said the early outbreak of potholes throughout West Michigan is in part because road commissions are operating on 1997 funding levels and because of an up-and-down winter.

Freezes then thaws create a lot of jaw-jarring thuds.

Assistant City Manager Eric DeLong described it as "a banner year" for potholes and the road conditions as "a crisis."

"Every year is a difficult year," said John Weiss of the Grand Valley Metro Council. "This year probably will be an extraordinarily difficult year."

DeLong told 24 Hour News 8 that 10 yrs ago, 60% of Grand Rapids' roads were rated in good shape. Now, more than 60% are rated in poor shape.

He said there are "more car repairs, more tires, more alignments."

That's obvious on Baldwin Street in Georgetown Township, arguably the worst busy street in the area. Baldwin Street is so bad it's rated a 2 out of 10.

"It's just the weather," Chris Rillema of the Ottawa County Road Commission told 24 Hour News 8. "We've been patching 'em up the best we can, and with the cold and the hot, it's all you can do."

He said only the biggest potholes are being filled right now.

"We're trying to get the biggest, you know as far as the deepest and largest holes filled  so that, you know, it's as easy as possible on everyone's vehicles."