Here's the truth, Governor.
Michigan has chronically underfunded its roads for decades. It ranks near the bottom nationally in road investment per capita—historically spending less than Ohio, Minnesota, Indiana, and many other cold-weather states. That means Michigan relies heavily on cheap, short-term patches instead of proper reconstruction or preventive maintenance.
Ohio does a better job dedicating gas tax revenue directly to roads, tests materials more rigorously, and often uses different pavement mixes that hold up better under heavy traffic and temperature swings.
Recent rankings confirm it:
Michigan sits around 40th nationally in overall road system condition.
States like Indiana consistently rank at the top for road quality, even in the Midwest snow belt.
Funding shortages — Michigan often can't afford full reconstruction (which costs 8–10 times more than a quick resurfacing). So they do cheaper "mill and fill" or overlays that only last 4–9 years instead of doing it right.
Maintenance habits — The state leans heavily on short-term fixes rather than routine preventive maintenance or building to a 30- or 50-year standard. This creates a cycle of constant repairs.