Ahh, spring is upon us.
The warmer weather and budding plants and trees instill in us ideas of rebirth and renewal. All around is activity and life. The redbird sings his songs while students come out of their dorms and apartments to bask in nature's warm glow.
Although, what would this time of year be though without our favorite springtime companion — potholes?
I don't know a single Muncie driver who doesn't have at least one anecdote about driving around the city and repeatedly hitting big potholes.
Once you've driven into a really nice pothole, you instantly transform into an old man who can recite the exact time, date and place it occurred.
We've all had those conversations that go like, "Don't be a idiot, take Tillotson. McKinley has more potholes than Edward James Olmos' face."
Then the other person might say something like, "You're the one being a moron. Just last March I saw a pothole on Tillotson that ate a full-sized sedan." You all know what I mean, right?
I guess it comes with the territory of being a Munsonian. Compared to other medium-sized cities, Muncie seems to be famous for their poor road conditions. At least that's the way it appears to this columnist. There
are even multiple Facebook sites devoted solely to their hatred for Muncie's pothholes.
The number of concerned citizens grows along with the number of unfixed potholes every year. Should we expect any different? More holes will continue to form when the need to repair roads consistently outpaces the funding available at the federal, state and local levels.
But, with just a little browsing, it was not hard to find lots of stories from all over the country that voiced similar concerns. This year, more than ever, it seems the weather is to blame.
Having just passed a particularly rough winter that took us through a near constant freeze/thaw cycle, roads around the country are suffering. According to a Jim Axelrod report, big cities along the East Coast have
filled in nearly 300 percent more potholes than they did last year.
The reason why the weather can be blamed for this problem is due to the way in which potholes form. The holes form after water seeps through tiny cracks in the road and collects underneath. When it freezes, the water expands and then pushes the pavement up and the subsurface soil down. When the ice eventually thaws, a cavity is left behind that caves in when your car drives over the top of it.
According to Axelrod's report, the average motorist will spend $335 per year to repair damage from driving on bumpy roads. The damage includes blown tires, bent rims, broken axles and much more.
Personally, I just swerve all over the road like a drunkard in order to avoid the holes.
If you're not as lucky and your car is damaged from a pothole, do not fret. The state of Indiana will reimburse most drivers who send in claims to the Indiana Department of Transportation. You can reach INDOT at 317-232-5790, or go online to receive a claim form.
If you're still not satisfied with this good news and the warm weather isn't enough to lift you out of your winter blues, then hopefully you'll take comfort knowing that lots of new construction plans are set to take place
around the city.
According to an article in The Star Press, the recently enacted wheel tax has brought in new revenue to help pay for road repaving in heavy traffic areas like the portions of McGalliard and Tillotson nearest to campus. In
addition, the stimulus bill has allowed federal funding for renovations to the campus stretch of Neely Avenue.
The overall goal is to make Neely Avenue as pleasing and beautiful as the recent McKinley Street remodeling. It'll really tie the campus together.
So, as we attempt to embrace the spirit of spring, the only thing I ask is that we ease up on all the bellyaching about potholes and to make sure we appreciate all the improvements the city has made when we return
in the fall.
If you won't be returning, make sure you plan a trip to come visit sometime. Hopefully when you do, we'll share a few drinks and talk about how wonderful the city is becoming and not about the next worst thing we all hate about Muncie — Ball State basketball.
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