It's Like An Asteroid Field — Southfield Mayor Says Fix Pothole-Ridden Road, Or Shut It Down
SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - Chaos and craziness is how drivers are describing the southbound stretch of Greenfield Road in Southfield, between 8 and 10 Mile roads.
Motorist Malcolm Xavier said it's like trying to fly through an asteroid field.
"It feels like Han Solo trying to navigate getting away from, who was that ... Boba Fett? That's a Star Wars reference for you," he told WWJ Newsradio 950's Ron Dewey.
Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence is calling on the Road Commission for Oakland County to either repair that part of Greenfield, or close it to traffic.
There are so many potholes, Lawrence said, that her office has been fielding complaint after complaint about blown tires and bent rims.
Jordan Walker is among those residents who are fed up.
"My girlfriend, she just had a flat tire yesterday from the potholes, and now it's something that we have to pay for," Walker said.
Dwane Hawkins says the potholes there are like miniature ravines.
"That's sad. I'm not from Michigan — I'm from Florida," Hawkins said. "I've never seen a road like that in my life. That's ridiculous! It's scary, to be honest with you ... anything could happen."
Oakland County Road Commission spokesperson Craig Bryson said he understands why the mayor is so frustrated, and the problem is on their radar.
"Longer-term the plan is that we're going to completely reconstruct the southbound lanes this summer, when we get to construction season,
he said. "We can't do that kind of road construction in the winter."
In the meantime, Bryson said, they will monitor the road's condition daily.
"We were out there yesterday patching the potholes," Bryson said. "We will continue to do that."
Worst case scenario, Bryson said, is they would shut it down —but they're not there yet.
Southfield officials are urging drivers who wish to issue a complaint to call the Road Commission for Oakland County at 877-858-4804.
