The Bridges of Mason County 2015

[XLFD]

Be wary of the various news media and politicians complaining about the shape of the roads and the bridges.  Even though they aren't in very good shape, it is true, they are more than likely trying to get you to buy into voting yes on Proposal 1 and raising the state sales tax from 6% to 7%. 

What is impressive is that Proposal 1 was painstakingly crafted to garner support from many of the constituencies in power, a point that hasn't went unnoticed.  Local pundit Nick Krieger connected the dots and wrote a fine analysis on the governor's effort to make a coalition to pass this tax increase; the only way to confront it is with an informed electorate that can choose whether the increased burden is actually going to get laid down as pavement.  In the meantime, get used to seeing Governor Snyder in a hardhat talking to construction workers.

  

Mlive recently ran an article offering a bit of alarmism about the condition of Michigan bridges undoubtedly spurred by Proposal One propagandists.  Unfortunately, they don't run enough articles wondering why all the roads have been neglected in the past while the state spends billions trying to attract, develop and retain businesses with public dollars, with disappointing results.

Here is the data.  Roughly one out of nine Michigan bridges -- or 11.7 percent -- are considered structurally deficient. That's the 16th highest rate in the country, worst ranking amongst the Great Lakes states and above the national average of 10 percent.

But it's not historically awful; Nearly 18 percent of Michigan bridges were deemed structurally deficient in 2004, which was then the 10th highest rate in the country. The number of deficient bridges has dropped incrementally over the past decade.

The Michigan Transportation Management Council, in the 2013 version of its annual report, attributed the recent improvements to progress at the state level and adoption of preventive maintenance strategies by more local agencies.

An interactive application allows one to review the 17 various bridges in Mason County.  Eight of these bridges have either superstructure or substructure problems labelled in serious or critical condition.  The list is shown below, and can be accessed with the link below it, along with details on each bridge.  Following the list is the location of those bridges, at least one of which has been recently corrected.

http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/02/mapping_michiga...

Here's a closer look at those bridges.  The Decker Road Bridge is listed as serious in all categories

Hawley Road southeast of Branch is serious in two categories and poor in one other:

Just over three mile wests of Fountain is another bridge in serious condition in all three aspects on Tuttle:

This bridge on Chauvez Road is all serious, and just east of South Stiles Road-- but it was worked on just this last year, so it should now be excellent:

The following bridges are critical in at least one area.  Darr Road 4 miles north of Scottville has its substructure in critical condition:

About one mile northeast of Freesoil is another bridge with critical condition substructure.

And though its top is good, the superstructure and substructure are critical on this bridge on Darr Road, less than a mile north of the other serious bridge:

[Willy]

Good article X and a good piece of writing by Nick. If the people of Michigan vote to approve this proposal they will only be screwing themselves. What was to only be increased revenues for road repair has morphed into a big pot of gold for many other programs. I am so sick of this socialist, redistribution of wealth that is called "earned income credit". If a person does not pay into the tax system they should not receive any tax refund.  I'm also disappointed in our RINO Governor for acting as if he is a member of the Democrat Party.  Most people are looking at a 1cent increase in the sales tax as no big deal when in fact it is a big deal. A big deal to the tune of a 16.6 % increase in the sales tax. So just figure that in one years time you will be paying almost 17% more in Michigan sales tax and much of it will be going to things other than roads. I'm giving this proposal a big thumbs down.

[XLFD]

You are voting yourself not only for a sales tax increase, but also an increase in the power of your government.  But if you think the increase will help what you think is in serious arrears, you can guess again.  If you are older, think back to all the other times the state has increased your taxes and directed it to the problem of the time.  Did they fix the problem?  Never.  Did they divert money all over the place such as in mega-pensions and corporate welfare?  Always

[AQUAMAN]

Excellent analysis and exhaustive research again X. What those politicians won't tell you is how they also made promises of same when they increased the sales tax from 4% to 5%, then again from 5% to 6%, and now, 6% to 7%. A vote of NO should tell them they have already screwed up too many years for these old bridges to get to this point. What they should also tell you is that if this fails, they will seek to raise the sales tax by 1/2% to 6-1/2%, just to get a part of their way somehow in the final analysis. And round and round we go, where the money goes, nobody knows.