Absurdly Massive Pothole In Grand Rapids Takes Out 6+ Cars

Officially, Michigan has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Unofficially, Michigan actually has these four seasons: spring, pothole fixing, fall, and pothole. For Michigan's continuously busted and damaged roads, it is a constant war between potholes being fixed and potholes being created as the drastically opposite seasons of winter and summer present themselves.

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But a recent pothole at one of Grand Rapids' busiest exits on US-131 may be in the running as the largest pothole this season, and has renewed the conversation around what you can do if a pothole wrecks your car.

Massive Pothole On West River Dr. Exit

It's not often you see a hole in a bridge deck so deep you can see the rebar, but earlier this week, a pothole the size of the Upper Peninsula formed on the bridge deck above West River Dr. in Comstock Park.

READ MORE: How These 5 Michigan Made Cars Changed Automotive History

The hole led to multiple lane closures yesterday, and while the hole has since been filled, WOOD TV8 reports that two lanes will be closed until mid-June to fix the However, that was before at least six cars experienced burst tires from the hole.

Plenty of us have had to dodge pothole after pothole in our time, but if you do blow a tire on one, can you make the city or state pay for it?

Michigan's Pothole Damage Claims

The answer to this is yes and no. If your car is damaged by a "highway defect" on any M, I, or US route and not a local or county road, any driver can submit a claim to get their damages paid for by the state.

However, almost humorously, the Department of Transportation makes it abundantly clear that a "majority of damage claims are denied under governmental immunity laws", especially if the claim is under $1000. If the claim is more than $1000, you can file a lawsuit.

Pothole on exit to west river from 131 north. Claimed atleast 6 victims (tires)
by
u/nilesandstuff in
grandrapids

Ultimately, potholes are a pain in the bumper for everyone.