Although Detroit has traditionally been coined as "The Motor City," its roads are in terrible condition. According to the last report of the Washington based, nonprofit organization, TRIP, Michigan's roads and bridges each were poorly graded with a "D."

Although the percentages of Michigan's road conditions that are in need of repair are only slightly higher than those averages across the nation, improvements are badly needed.

Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm is focused on repairs rather than adding new roads or expanding existing ones. Whereas, Michigan's republican leaders are in sharp contradiction to Granholm's ideas, as they argue that monies should be spent more on new construction to alleviate the congestion, which the TRIP report graded as a "C."

Republicans also argue that new construction would also allow more businesses to increase. In a state that has reported numerous problems in their business stability as the automobile industry has lost its hold within the state, Republicans favor building roads that will help businesses expand and allow motorists easier and faster access.

State officials reported that targeted goals for "good conditions" of roads should be reached by the year 2007, with bridges at the same level by the year 2008.

However, AAA of Michigan reports that the climate of the state has an ill effect on the roads each year. Federal funding did not pay for the maintenance of these roads for several years (only construction was funded), which caused approximately 5,000 pothole damage claims and 18,000 windshields broken due to road debris. Although these numbers are similar to the prior year's claims, the cost to repair the automobile damages has risen.

The transportation director for the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Carmine Palombo stated that he is in favor of rebuilding existing roads even though there is a problem with congestion due to construction.

According to Palombo, "More miles of road are deteriorating than we are improving on an annual basis. We're still not breaking even yet."

As a funny side note to a noncomical situation, The Michigan Department of Transportation has placed a few orange neon signs on a few freeways that are undergoing construction warning drivers to "Yeild Ahead." The correct spelling is "yield."