Michigan's roads are among nation's worst

A new ranking placing Michigan’s roads among the nation’s worst is fueling efforts by paving contractors to restore road funding in the state.

Overdrive Magazine, a national trucking magazine, has ranked Michigan roads the second worst in the nation, behind Pennsylvania. Florida was ranked as having the best roads, according to the annual survey of truck owner-operators.

"Until the Legislature steps up and provides adequate funding to repair our crumbling infrastructure, national groups and publications will keep sending the same message to businesses and job creators across America - stay off Michigan's roads,” said Mike Nystrom, executive vice president of the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association and co-chair of the Michigan Transportation Team.

The association, whose members include road paving companies, are among those who have advocated raising revenues to fund road repair in Michigan. Under proposed cuts, the state stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars next fiscal year in matching federal transportation dollars.