Craters, Chaos & Cesar E. Chavez: My Lansing Road Report

JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE 

When I first came to Lansing, I soon realized just the level of Hell (no, not the town) Lansingites were dealing with when it came to road conditions. Then I learned it’s not just Lansing. A LOT of Michiganders deal with this. When I drove through Flint, my tires disappeared into a Buick sized hole that was so jarring my sciatica flared. It’s so bad Michigan roads have their own hashtag: #FTDR—fix the damn roads. You also have an entire process for claiming car repair reimbursement from the state because of the road conditions.  

THERE WERE MORE, BUT I CAN’T FIND THE PAPERWORK FOR MY WARRANTY 

I asked you to tell me about the WORST roads in Lansing. You came through. MLK, Capitol Avenue, “Just drive any of part of I-96 or I-69!” were all offered as the absolute worst. I checked them out, and here are my reviews of some of the worst:  

Capitol Avenue—compared to the vehicle eating sinkhole in Flint, this one isn’t so bad. But it has potential. It felt like driving over a complex web built by really big spiders. 

Legacy Parkway—this one had the potential to win it all, but it regularly has geese strolling across. It’s hard to be mad at a road that has geese. 

READ ALSO: Lansing's Potholes Are Ruining My Morning Commute 

MLK—this one could have been a contender and maybe WAS as bad as sinkhole road in Flint. BUT...crews are currently in the process of resurfacing a good stretch of it. Part of it had already been put down when we were out checking the situation and it was smooth as glass. That’s going to be a GOOD road soon.  

WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER...IF YOU CAN EAT AFTER THE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE  

Cesar E. Chavez—this is my winner. I had to drive this road everyday while staying in Lansing. And every day it just seemed to get worse. Even the part of it designated as a bicycle lane needs a 4-wheel drive set-up. The smoothest part of that entire road is where the train tracks go over it. I give this road a 4-bounce rating, meaning every tire will bounce in a different direction independently of each other at least once while traveling this thoroughfare.  

Get our free mobile app

As for the interstates, not even going there...mostly because you can’t. Half the exits to them are closed.  And don't even get me started on the lack of reflective striping--EVERYWHERE! 

As terrible as your roads are, this was a fun way to learn my way around Lansing during my stay, though my car is a bit worse for the wear. Now, does anyone know if I must be a resident of Michigan to put in for repair reimbursement?