Has anyone noticed how bad the streets around town are getting? I am quite tired of dodging pot holes on every street I drive on. I think if the ciy doesn't want to fix them, then we should go back to dirt roads like the old days.

Have you noticed the weather lately? What you are seeing is called frost heaving and it is caused by the repeated snow/freeze/thaw cycle. Nothing can be done until the ground thaws and the weather warms up.

I hope we can all be patient. Most of the potholes are the result of a very cold, freezing, thaw a little, snow more, very cold, freezing etc. etc. winter. It is difficult to repair those potholes while there are numerous freeze and thaw cycles. I know the city and state crews will do their best to make the repairs when it is climate and economically feasible. I appreciate all the extra hours they have spent plowing, shoveling, hauling, and sweeping all the snow we have received.

You don't me and you don't like me
Say you care less how I feel
How many of you that sit and judge me
Ever walked the streets of Miles City?

Lady's and Gentlemen, Dwight Emilsson!

Or Gunnar Owens!

I know what you mean. I hate the streets in Miles City. I've lived here for 12 yrs.,and most of the have been in need of repair for those 12 yrs. Another thing, when is the City, county,or who ever going to start clearing the side streets in the Winter?

I don't think the side streets and those with less traffic are plowed. We live in a cold climate, are having a particularly snowy winter (most snow since 1969) and we can't afford to plow every street.

You are so right, Amorette! Thank you!

In Bozeman, on Eighth Street between Main and the MSU campus they have been know to put up a sign that says "Rough Road Next Mile" this time of year. There are not enough orange cones to flag all the potholes, and if they could, there would be no place to drive.

Its kinda fun, swervin around reminds me of Nascar...Warming up the tires.
Its the same holes every year. Leighton is beating the brakes off my truck. If a post keeps falling over do you keep putting it back in the same hole w/ the same packing? What ever they are doing.... dirt w/ a sprinkle asphalt obviously isnt working... Gotta be something we could do with that darn post.

Move to a climate with no frost/thaw cycles and the problems goes away.

I am living in a small town in Wyoming and the streets don't seem to have that problem. It is generally colder and more snow here than Miles City. I was just in Miles City last week and I agree just as well be dirt roads.

It would SEEM that by March 1st, it is NOT unreasonable to expect that ALL of the streets in Miles City should have been cleared of snow/ice at least once!

It's just a function of money. You want 'em cleared, pay more in taxes, it's as simple as that.

They are on overtime already on snow clearance and had to spend an extra $5000 on the chemical they add to the sand because they ran out. So, what do you want to cut and/or how much more do you want to pay? It is all a matter of choices.

And, no, they can't repair potholes until the weather warms up and dries out. Otherwise, it is a waste of time.

Potholes are more tolerable in Russia because they play balalaika music in the background.

Thanks guys I know it is caused by freezing and frost and cold weather, I'm not dumb. However the city could fill them with some dirt or gravle better yet. You know how hard it is on a vehicle to hit a pot hole the size of your tire going 25mph?? And as for better snow removal I agree. Side streets not so bad but how about the side streets that go by the SCHOOLS??? They could atleast take a pass by the schools while they are out and about.

[This message has been edited by Sydnee (3/9/2011)]

The common temporary asphalt patch is called "cold mix". It is being done right now in the town I live in. The government of which is still worried about how to pay for the snow removal and de-icer they've already used, much less how to pay for the temporary patches, and the proper repairs needed when the weather is right.
You get what you pay for when it comes to building and maintaining roads and streets.

Move, thats an easy solution. Everyone in Miles City that thinks there should be a different fix for the potholes should move... Well it looks like it would only be you and a few die hards staying around (Pray a chiropractor stays for your sore backs). Or we can all just stay here and watch as the city puts some pothole in a box in the holes that will come back year after year. If you think frost is causing the potholes everywhere your sadly mistaken. Im sure winter can be blamed on some... BUT ANY hole fixed ANYTIME of year in Miles City is a pot hole the first time it rains. How about digging up a square around the potholes that re-occur every year and filling it in with something like concrete. They have barrels set up down Montana Ave every few years to block the man holes with drying concrete while they re-do the asphault. I would gladly drive around them while it dries. And It should pay for itself considering we pay someone EVERY YEAR to fix the potholes. Or perhaps it will take someone dying or getting seriously hurt before the city does something. What if someone hits a hole, loses a tire and smashes head on to a van full of our Cowboys or Cowgirls. Would that wake you up. Maybe spend some time trying to figure a solution. Rather than tell us there is no way.

Everybody is an expert.

And furthermore pull the guy out of the street sweeper for 1 week a month. Train him to run a plow and use that week per month to concentrate on side streets for the winter. Im sure the citizens of Miles City would gladly deal with a little dirt, leaves and gravel on the roads in trade for being able to drive down their street without your vehicle uncontrollably turning sideways in the ruts. Im sure every visitor that comes to town looks down at the street and says "My these streets have some dirt and gravel on them what a dirty town." That may/maynot happen. But I guarantee you every visitor that came to Miles City this winter has had some sort of bad experience or comment about our city streets.

Welcome to Miles City,
the pothole town,
for the holes in your streets,
you are renowned.

We drove half a block,
in your City fair,
dropped into a chasm,
and knew we were there.

Two blown tires and a bent rim,
told us this was it,
We really need a wrecker,
before we get hit.

Be sure to pray,
before you drive downtown,
'casue this is the holiest place,
that has ever be found.

Thank you. That was aaamazing.

[This message has been edited by Fitchinallday (3/9/2011)]

The trouble is Helena is 20 degrees warmer then here in Miles City and our streets are still snow covered and wet. Cold mix needs dry and a bit above freezing to adhere to the road. a heat gun can be used to dry and heat the road but you need to be close to the right conditions or the fix breaks right out wasting your money for patch and time putting it in. We need non freezing non precipitating days in order to fix streets. We have had nether sense last October.

I was not trying to say they need to re pave every road I was simply getting at the fact that a little gravel from a pit would help. I'm not moving because of pot hole they are in every town you go to but there are a lot of them here. If the city would give me some gravel I would gladley put it in the wholes. volunteering my time! And there are some streets you can't dodge them because of on coming trafic. I hope I have not offended anyone but my first post. It was simple conversation so how our roads are. and the going back to the old days was just a smart remark.

right now is a waist of time to put gravel in. no sooner would it be put in, it will be kicked out. until the temps warm up and the streets dry out, pick a different street to travel. dont be sheepoel and take the same path.

And all of this costs money, which has been pointed out elsewhere.

Damn those unions anyways.

I don't think they plow side streets in Billings, either. I've never seen snow ruts here anything like I used to see there.

Mostly, this winter has just been a beast. I don't think we've had snow-free ground since before Thanksgiving, which is definitely unusual.

How About add some lime to that gravel? Maybe that would help stabilize it a little?

How about a business that has constant wet traffic leaveing it and now the pot holes are terrible infront of their business? Should they have to pay to help fix the streets?

As for the plowing of side streets I agree, teach the guy running the sweeper or the water truck who is just driving around "Washing" (spraying water all over streets and splashing muddy water all over peoples cars and filling open windows with water) cars to run a plow! One week per month of less washing and less sweeping he could be plowing (Or at least running a blade down the streets knocking the ruts down)

Kudo's to Custer County Road Department, it looks to me like most of the streets they take care of are pretty free and clear of snow. Pot holes still suck though (Sewell street)


Haven't the streets around the post office, short stop, and almost all the way to main gotten ALOT worse since the "little" gas spill?? Sure seems like it to me!

the city doesn't even have a real plow. it has a motorgrader to peel up the snow after it has been packed down a little and a front end loader with a plow that will attach to it. but most of the time it has the bucket on it because it is loading the snow that the motorgrader has bladed up. the city has had the same policy forever and a day. this town has just been spoiled for the last ten years or more with an open winter and this still isn't even the winters i remember as a kid.

When the budget discussions come up this summer, be sure to attend those Council and committee meetings so you can let your councilmen know what you consider the priorities.

Although the suggestion about the street sweeper running the snow plow makes no sense. It is the same crew. The street sweeper guy DOES run the snow plow. You are dealing with 40 hour weeks winter and summer so you can't have someone work 20 hours in the summer and 60 hours in the winter.

Maybe bump him to only 20 hours per week in the summer and hire another person to run twenty hours per week in the winter?

Where exactly is he/they putting in this 40 hours per week in the winter. I would think in the 16 weeks since its started snowing I would have seen him plowing somewhere putting in lets say 20 hours a week plowing some side streets....

Why would i not take the same path to my house and to work everyday when it is the shortest route?? Don't even get me started on gas prices to take a long route makes no sence.

holy procreate, i hope to god none of you moochers bitching about how the world should work voted republican in the last election.

You have no procreating money in the budget to clear the streets beyond the level they already are. If you want this to change, you will need to, as Amorette suggested, attend the city council meetings when the budgets are set.

And when the summer rolls round, cue the "why can't the city pay for lifeguards" debate.

But it's really the fault of the lazy unincorns and public employees.

[This message has been edited by Bridgier (3/9/2011)]

Sydnee wrote:

Why would i not take the same path to my house and to work everyday when it is the shortest route?? Don't even get me started on gas prices to take a long route makes no sence.

Shouldn't be difficult for the City County Planning Board hit squad to determine your routine...

All you gripers, you want to see some potholes, come to Forsyth and take a drive around. You'll long for the smooth Miles City streets.

And the city doesn't plow our side streets either.

Hear, hear

I myself am getting sick of all the pot holes. I was coming home from the hospital a couple weeks ago, sicker then poop. and hit one of them. Didn't even have time to miss it. Ended up hitting so hard it took my tire out. when I called to see if i could get help, the cop shop told me there was nothing they could do, but call a tow truck. but even the town truck wouldn't do anything but tow me home, and charge me a arm, and leg. or i could call the tire places and get charged 100.00 to 150.00 to have them help me. I could of done it myself, but with namonya (sorry can't spell today) i couldn't even hardly get the tire out of the trunk. When I talked to city hall to get my tire replaced. they denied me, because no one had reported any pot holes, and pretty much called me a lier. but go fig the guy was from helena and never drove on these roads. the city needs to get off their butts, and do something now before they have to replace the whole road. I know that it takes money to do this, but that just means the city should spend their money more wisely. stop worrying bout little things that the city doesn't need. And what happened to the big grant they got last year to fix the tatro road, and side walks next to garfield school? why can't they take some of that to fix the big holes. They got enough to fix that road, put in side walks, and still enough to fix all the pot holes. SO where did all the money go?

[This message has been edited by Heather Q. (3/11/2011)]

I bet Glendive doesn't have any potholes...

The money comes from different places. Regular road maintenance is part of the general budget paid for with tax dollars. The Tatro street project is funded by an assortment of grants and that money can only be used for that project. You can't skim some off and stick it in the general budget.

People really should attend some Council meetings when the budget is under discussion. It is not a matter of just "this is how much we have, this is how we spend it." It is figuring out which fund programs cover which needs and what priorities are. It takes YEARS, literally, to put the funding together for major projects like water tanks or the Tatro street project.

Heather Q who did you call that was from Helena??

well I have attended many meetings and it is the same old poop over and over. and to answer the question about who i talked to in helena. well i guess it is the main guy that takes care of all the insurance claims. don't remember his name. but i didn't get anywhere. so don't really care to remember. All I know it cost me allot of money that i will never see again.

well I have attended many meetings and it is the same old poop over and over

Yes. Actual governance is quite boring. Unless you're a fascist AND a dictator, then it's pretty much awesome all the time.

Just ask Gov. Walker....

I was walking my dog the other day, letting it poop in other peoples' yards, next to the old train station, and would you believe what I saw? The mayor was using stray cats from the depot to fill in pot holes.

Ingenious! What a budget saver!

If we could get locations for all of these unavoidable potholes in Miles City, it would be great help to many. Please post locations for the rest of us to check out, especially the one causing vehicle damage worthy of filing a claim with the city. We need to be on alert for that one. Perhaps support group meetings are in order. The people in town who have no problem maneuvering about town without sinking their vehicle in these mammoth sinkholes could properly instruct those having trouble. Let's pool our resources people! This is not an unwinnable fight.

How long has the "Tatro Street Project" been going on? For as long as I can remember, that has been one of the worst paved streets there. I'd rather drive down to Truscott or go up to Leighton or even main if I needed to get from 7th to Montana or vice versa. I dont have to be there to know what is goin on but when you can hit a pot hole here, bend, break or mess your vehicle up and turn it in to the city and they reimburse you for the damage, thats when you know the money is in the right place. Tatro street should be completely torn out and turned to gravel and it would be a million times better. Give the kids a jack hammer and back hoe and let them go at it... Free labor and the road is fixed lol

I was walking my dog the other day, letting it poop in other peoples' yards, next to the old train station, and would you believe what I saw? The mayor was using stray cats from the depot to fill in pot holes.

Ingenious! What a budget saver!

Post of the day.

Levi you are so funny I guess we must be related. Anyones someone wanted the names of streets. Leigthon is the one I drive the most. When you turn onto leighton on the Pinehills side up by the storage sheds are really bad, on both sides of the streets, then when you get by the old hospital is gets bad again. Also there is a huge hole coming out of Walmart closest to Pizza Hut. I have hit them all and rattled my brai a little.! Those are the ones drivin on a lot and need to be fixed.

[ Subject: RE: Streets in Miles City
Author: Amorette Allison Posted: 3/8/2011 9:08:36 PM From: - MT
Move to a climate with no frost/thaw cycles and the problems goes away.]

i live where it's 40-70degrees year-round, we still have potholes! many of them! rain makes them happen here. death valley's paved roads are pretty smooth, but the gravel ones will rattle yer teeth out!

[This message has been edited by mrozla (3/12/2011)]

I was walking my dog the other day, letting it poop in other peoples' yards, next to the old train station, and would you believe what I saw? The mayor was using stray cats from the depot to fill in pot holes.

Ingenious! What a budget saver!/

maybe you shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag, the animal rights folks will put a quick end to that now! oops!

(think i finally got that "quote" thing together)

Perhaps the vocal complainers would like to know that the city crew has been dilegently filling the potholes for quite a while, and made it to the corner of Montana and Comstock.
Glad to see the improvement.

Sometimes you've got to love the folks in Butte, America. The Newspaper holds an annual photo contest for the best pothole with the winner receiving an alignment from a local tire store.

The potholes on leighton Blvd have been mostly patched from the RR to Haynes Ave. They are already opening back up though. watch that one by the old HRH. Half of Albert Drive is torn up for repairs after major ice heaving. I high-centered on a heave one night while driving in my truck and reported it to dispatch as a traffic hazard. A car would have lost a muffler on it. Dispatch let City of Miles City crews know and they were there in the morning and have been working on it since.

The town is going to pot.....

No, the pot came to town....

By the Car wash is rediculous they patch um and 2 weeks later there open up even bigger, I think proper fixing of roads would be nice.

"I think proper fixing of roads would be nice."

Register your concern with the council people of your ward, they're the ones who control the checkbook for such projects...

If this is the car wash on Haynes, that is state highway.

Rebuilding streets is the way to go. How much do you want taxes raised by to pay for that?