HURON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Huron Township residents say a temporary fix to a pothole-riddled dirt road is doing little to address a long-standing safety hazard that’s left cars in ditches, school buses struggling, and even ambulances delayed.
After viewers flooded Local 4 with photos and videos of potholes across Metro Detroit, Huron Township’s S. Huron Road quickly emerged as one of the worst.
Earlier this month, drivers were getting stuck in deep ruts and ditches. Tow trucks were even called in to pull them out.
Neighbors say conditions became so bad that they turned to Local 4 for help. Right before we arrived, Wayne County crews already graded part of the road in an effort to smooth things out.
“They must have known you were coming because they wanted to go ahead and throw some dirt on there to make it look like they did something,” said Shelley, who lives nearby.
According to officials, crews have been out five times this month to address the problem.
But even after the grading, drivers say the patchwork quickly deteriorates.
“It will probably last until tonight,” said Audra Taylor. “There is no excuse for this. We live in modern-day history.”
Residents say it’s more than an inconvenience — it’s a serious safety issue.
“I mean, even our emergency response vehicles cannot get out here,” said Heather Riddle.
In December, Shelley said her daughter suffered a severe health emergency and needed an ambulance. The crew was forced to crawl down the road.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous that my daughter almost lost her life because it took so long for EMS to get to us,” she said.
The road has also taken a financial toll. Shelley said the potholes have also put her car in the shop.
“I can’t afford a new one because of the repair cost,” she said.
Statement from Wayne County Department of Public Services:
“As freeze-thaw cycles continue, potholes can develop rapidly on dirt roads, often in multiple areas at the same time. Wayne County maintains over 5,000 lane miles of roadway, and DPS crews are actively grading and prioritizing repairs to maintain safe driving conditions.
DPS crews have worked near Huron Rd. and Clark Rd. in Huron Township several times over the last few weeks, including January 13; February 14, 16, 17, and 24; and again today.
We will continue to monitor the area closely and provide service as needed. Maintaining safe and passable roads remains a top priority for the County. We appreciate the community’s patience and encourage residents to call 888-ROAD-CREW to report any road issues.”
“If you’re not going to pave it, at least maintain it,” Taylor said.
“Do the job and do it correctly. That’s all we ask,” Shelley added.
Officials urge drivers to report potholes so road agencies can keep track of the problem.
Pothole problems can be reported to:
- MDOT: 888-296-4546
- Wayne County: 888-ROADCREW
- Oakland County: 877-858-4804
- Macomb County: 586-467-8671