It's that time of year, when the snow thaws, and we see the potholes start to appear in the roads.
ALGER COUNTY -- "We're getting just bombarded with calls for coal patching," says Bob Lindbeck, engineer manager for the Alger County Road Commission.
And there are some areas that are more problematic than others.
Lindbeck says there's a high volume of potholes in Traunik on H-44, H-58 east of Grand Marais, local roads in Munising, and Sundell Road east of M-28.
"Each of those roads are on our long range plan for improvement, but with funding shortfalls and continuing challenges, there's no way we can keep up with reconstructing roads," Lindbeck adds.
That means more coal patching of potholes.
Monday Alger County road crews were patching residential streets in Wetmore.
"Whatever needs it most, we try to get on to them as soon as we can you know, with the manpower you have today, with the way things are, you know it's tight all over," says project foreman Mike Graves.
It's a matter of maintaining the more than 600 miles of road that the Alger County Road Commission is responsible for.
The Alger County Road Commission is already doing seasonal maintenance on Deerton Road in Onota Township, until a $245,000 road reconstruction project starts in July.
That project is being funded with federal aid money.
Of the seven townships in Alger County, four have their own road millage: Mathias, Munising, Burt, and Au Train.
The road commission can then match those funds to help pay for maintenance.
The three year road millage approved in Au Train Township will expire at the end of this year.
On the May ballot will be a new five year, two millage proposal.
A presentation will be held Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Au Train Township hall, explaining the five-year plan, and where the money would go.
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