As Pavement Crumbles, What Are The Chances Gov. Whitmer Will Fix the Damn Roads?

Stephen Henderson speaks with two journalists who have followed the roads debate for years.

A deep pothole in Detroit.

A deep pothole in Detroit.

Gretchen Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ran a campaign to “fix the damn roads” and now she has to find a way to deliver on that message.

She faces a Republican-led Legislature that isn’t likely to jump at an opportunity to hand Whitmer a win.

But those lawmakers also face their constituents, and every Legislative district has its own issues with our crumbling roads.

How likely is it that we’ll see significant road improvements in the near future?

Stephen Henderson speaks with two journalists who have followed this issue for years.

Chad Livengood is a reporter with Crain’s Detroit Business. He wrote a piece in Crain’s after the 2018 election titled, “Whitmer won on ‘damn roads’; now she owns them.” 

Susan Demas is the editor in chief of Michigan Advance

Click on the audio player above to hear those conversations.

Author

  • Dynamic and diverse voices. News, politics, community and the issues that define our region. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Stephen Henderson, Detroit Today brings you fresh and perceptive views weekdays at 9 am and 7 pm.