road conditions in Twin cities (Minneapolis, Center City: maintenance, living, bus)

[sorma1]

why are they so horrible?

[MplsTodd]

Roads are generally bad in winter due to the freeze-thaw cycle, wear and tear from snow-plows, salt and ice. They've been especially bad for the past several years because our state hasn't invested much $$$ in infrastructure. Therefore roads get patched when they should be replaced.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

I never thought roads were that bad in Minnesota. Where exactly are you comparing it to? Every winter there would be a few potholes, and I would see the remnants of the old streetcar lines underneath the pavement. But they would fill them in pretty quickly once it warmed up. City maintenance actually seemed pretty competent, unless the media just doesn't focus on it as much as they do out here on the east coast. There are always stories on the news here (Philadelphia) about roads that are practically caving in, and nothing happens until people on the block call the news and they run some type of investigative expose on it, and then it's magically fixed.

I found it interesting that in the Twin Cities they don't plow roads down to the blacktop in the winter, there is always a layer of snow left. I didn't own a car, but my dad found it pretty scary to drive on when he would visit me. I suppose there's a reason for that, though.

Also, there's just nowhere to put the snow, which causes problems. I found this especially annoying as a pedestrian, having to climb mountains of snow. But that's really nothing that can be helped. Here in SE PA, it can snow 15 inches (like it just did), but it will be all melted in a couple of days. Or weeks at the most. In Minnesota, the snow from the fall is still there until spring. Seems like it's just part of living somewhere so cold though.

[sorma1]

I've been commuting in the northern suburbs (Hwy 10/694/etc). They are bad.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by sorma1

I've been commuting in the northern suburbs (Hwy 10/694/etc). They are bad.

So just compared to how those roads have been in past years, or compared to somewhere else?


I always thought Minneapolis handled the road situations pretty well. The worst snow storm I was there for, my bus to work was 10 minutes late - which made me right on time, since I usually got there 10 minutes early. With the 15 inches we just got here in Philly, the bus system was all but shut down. Only the trains ran, with extreme delays. As of last night, there were still about 20 bus routes that were not running due to impassable roads, even though the storm was 4 days ago now. And actually, as we speak, they are just plowing my street in Center City for the first time - not with snow plows, but with a bulldozer. Makes you think...

[sorma1]

These roads are bad, not because of the snow...that is an awful excuse.

[FamousBlueRaincoat]

Originally Posted by sorma1

These roads are bad, not because of the snow...that is an awful excuse.

Well, I assume most of the road problems in Minnesota can be blamed on the weather. Other than that, if you actually see specific things that need to be fixed there are usually ways to report them.

[sorma1]

famous u don't even live here...lol

[Norsky1]

You should be more clear on what roads. I commute on 10 and what not, and I haven't seen a problem. They have been clear of snow and haven't had any potholes that I have noticed.

Just because someone doesn't live here doesn't mean they haven't lived here before.

[sorma1]

Originally Posted by Norsky1

You should be more clear on what roads. I commute on 10 and what not, and I haven't seen a problem. They have been clear of snow and haven't had any potholes that I have noticed.

Just because someone doesn't live here doesn't mean they haven't lived here before.

thx for the good laugh..