Did you ever wonder why every road construction project has to take all summer?

By David McClelland

It happens every summer. We are delayed again and again in our travel due to long, drawn-out highway construction jobs. We often see no work being done at all at some locations for days, even weeks, at a time. There must be a better way!

Talk about Road Rage! I'm surprised that we just stand by and suffer numerous delays every year without trying to improve on this situation. This year, major construction on Telegraph Road is causing motorists great inconvenience and businesses significant loss of income.

Costco said their gas sales are off 25% since construction began. Big Boy said their business is off at least as much. Carl's Golfland is having huge sales to try to cope.

Why shouldn't the contracting agencies require that contractors begin and end each job promptly without leaving it to go to their other jobs? We would have just as many locations with construction delays, but the delays would be for far shorter periods and not last all summer. The argument, I'm sure, it that the paving companies find it more cost-effective to continue to do business as they have always done it. Not good enough! We should demand that our Road Departments hear out pleas and figure out ways to cause us, the tax payers, far less inconvenience. If you agree and commute in Oakland County, let them hear from you at: dcsmail@rcoc.org