Question of the day
Monday, Jul 8, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The governor says this a lot…
Pritzker also said improving the state’s infrastructure could also save money on repairs for drivers.
“By resurfacing roads, people’s cars are going to get less damage,” he said. “When you blow out a tire, you often have to replace two tires. that can cost $300, and so the expense of paying for the roads and the upgrades of our bridges and life safety is worth it.
* The governor may be referencing this study…
Drive down a major road or highway in Illinois and you’ll likely feel the bump of potholes. A report from TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based research group, put a number on what it costs drivers to travel these roads — $18.3 billion. That includes additional car repairs, time lost in traffic, and crashes caused by poor road conditions.
The group is funded by road-builders, unions and “organizations concerned with an efficient and safe surface transportation network that promotes economic development and quality of life.”
That doesn’t make their numbers wrong, but it does make me wonder.
* The Question: Have your household or work cars been damaged in the past few years by poor Illinois roads, bridges, etc.? If so, how often? Make sure to explain your answer. Thanks.
- Collinsville Kevin - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:17 pm:
About five years ago I hit such a huge pothole on I-255 near Cahokia that it caused an instant blowout. Hasn’t happened since, and now I take I-55 to work instead.
- Left of the Lake - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
Yes! I had a coworker’s husband who bent his rim and blew a tire out last month on a pot hole on IL route 120 up here in Lake County.
- Wylie Coyote - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
Two tires, two rims on Ill. Route 4.
- Name Withheld - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
I know that I replaced two windshields in a 6 month span due to gravel on the road (IL 125) flying into my car. It’s not a pothole or something like that - but it cost me money that I hadn’t had to shell out previously (moved out of Spfld and started driving into town)
- Earnest - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:21 pm:
No, but I’m a very low-mileage driver, usually in town or on country roads.
- DarkDante - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
I lost a bike tire a couple weeks ago in Chicago just off of Cermak. My friend has lost 6 tires in the past 2 years on the roads and expressways. It’s a minefield out there sometimes, I swear!
- Highland Il - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
I-255 is a pothole minefield. I also had a blowout leaving work this past year.
- Southern Illinois Mayor - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:32 pm:
To be fair I think the proper analogy would e it’s like smoking or drinking. The rougher you are on something over time it will have an adverse effect.
- benniefly2 - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:32 pm:
A few years ago, I blew a tire on a massive pothole heading northbound on Sacramento Blvd just south of the Green Line underpass in Chicago. I couldn’t swerve to avoid it due to traffic in the lane next to me.
Someone later told me that I should have called 311 to report the incident so that the City could reimburse me for the cost of the tires (you always put on at least 2). I did not know about that at the time.
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
Over 30,000 miles a year just commuting, but nothing damaging to the car (at least according to my mechanic). Drive the work vehicles on even worse local roads, but no major issues. Now, wear and tear on my body driving over all those rough roads, that’s another issue.
- Some Guy - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:35 pm:
4 years ago in the near Northwest side of Chicago the pavement around a manhole collapsed, causing my car to nearly fall through (as it was parked over the pavement). I was forced to file an insurance claim at a $500 deductible to repair the rim, tire, and bumper. The claim was considered a “collision” and has forced my premiums higher ever since. Since then, all four shocks are nearly shot from routine driving and I have had another tire blowout on a pothole. I take very good care of my vehicles and this sort of damage and associated cost from normal and responsible driving is a problem. I am happy to pay a little more at regular fill-ups to avoid these types of sporadic and costly situations.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:38 pm:
Unfortunately, I have a car with low profile tires. I’ve replaced two tires at least eight times over the last decade due to potholes either in Chicago or on interstates (probably 50/50). I always submit for reimbursement when it’s a Chicago issue. And, I highly recommend Discount Tire and their replacement program ($25 per tire when purchased and if it has to be replaced - any reason - just labor and the replacement fee if you want to continue in the program). I’ve also lost two wheels to Chicago potholes. Those were significantly more expensive and th claim to th city didn’t cover the entire cost.
- Annonin' - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:38 pm:
Yup. Just the other day my son hit a pavement buckle on I-55 returning from NASCAR.
Lost a tire in SPI in May too.
Did anyone ever get the details on why GovJunk was on crutches last week.
- Glengarry - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:38 pm:
Yep. The front struts in the family 2013 Volvo are shot and are about to cost me $1,500.
- A Jack - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:39 pm:
I drive I55 and I80 several times a year, but haven’t had any problems that I can directly attribute to road conditions. But certainly a better road surface would make the trip more enjoyable. So if the roads actually get fixed instead of just a temporary patch, I can deal with the added cost.
- Pyrman - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:41 pm:
It would be interesting to see how many damage claims were made to IDOT for road damage to vehicles
- Grandson of Man - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:42 pm:
No but I hit some pretty jarring potholes. Surprised nothing broke.
- Duke of Normandy - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
Yes. Pothole on I55 between Lincoln and Springfield caused a flat on the way to work. Had to take take personal time because I was late changing it and taking it to a place to see if it could be fixed. So, it cost me Personal time and the money for a new tire because it was beyond repair.
- Anon221 - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
IDOT claims story-
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/04/16/idot-damage-claims-ms-dos/
- RNUG - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
Yes.
A year ago I damaged the steering rack on the new car on Chatham Road in Springfield. Luckily the warranty covered that one.
I’ve also had to replace a couple of bent steel rims on my classic car.
- foster brooks - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:54 pm:
never had a suspension or tire problem
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:57 pm:
Just for kicks try walking across any street under the viaducts around the Clybourne Metra station. Extra points if you do it in the rain.
- Nobody - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 12:58 pm:
Lost 2 tires on the way to Bloomington on I 74 last year. Serious pothole.
- Honeybear - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:01 pm:
To and from work in East St. Louis
is brutal
on the tires.
I’ve replaced a LOT of tires
in my service to the state
- lincoln's beard - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:02 pm:
So repairing these roads is going to result in significant economic losses and hardship to tire installers, auto repair shops, and other hard-working Illinoisans?
Shame on you, Governor. Shame.
- Give Me A Break - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
Our daughter has twice in the last five years replaced wheels and tires after hitting pot holes on I 55 around Dwight.
- Facts Matter - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:08 pm:
2 windshields in 2 years from rocks/debris from potholes on I-55. It cost me the $250 deductible each time.
- Anyone Remember - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:18 pm:
Chipped windshields from the “repairs” on Dirksen between IDOT and SOS. Got to the point was driving on 11th (with the potholes / crummy patch jobs) rather than Dirksen. Need shocks earlier than projected from Stevenson / Sangamon.
- Jaguar - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:20 pm:
Yes. Last winter a pothole blew out a tire on my car on US 20, in Rockford.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:21 pm:
==So repairing these roads is going to result in significant economic losses and hardship to tire installers, auto repair shops, and other hard-working Illinoisans?==
So true. However repairing infrastructure means more big machinery on roads, more workers going to work. So there will be more cars/trucks/other vehicles to repair and more tires with mileage on them. And extra income for workers means discretionary things like air conditioning and radios can be bought.
- Lefty Lefty - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
I blew out 2 tires and bent one rim on IL31 in Kane County in a pothole that crept from the edge of the pavement into the traffic lane over time. Clearly it had been there a long time.
I went through the IDOT claim process and was shut down, of course. When I went to take pictures of it for the claim, the resident adjacent to it said it happened quite a bit.
- Dysfunction Junction - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:26 pm:
Yes, this past April - ruined front passenger tire and bent rim due to pothole on I-72 just east of Decatur. $300 damage caused, but ended up replacing both front tires to make sure everything wears evenly. Just under $600 total cost.
- ChicagoVinny - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
I hit a killer pothole a year or two ago on northbound LSD at Montrose bridge. Had to replace the tire.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:33 pm:
Five years. Four car tires. Six bike tires. So yea, that message resonates with me big time.
- Anon E Moose - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:39 pm:
I replace about one tire every other year. Small rock on I-57 shattered my windshield.
- SpfdNewb - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 1:41 pm:
No repairs due to potholes, yet, but there are some monsters on Rt29/Peoria Rd by the fairgrounds.
- Not a Billionaire - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 2:03 pm:
I just missed a blowout so yes it’s a tax that may save money. But they do overstate a good case.
- ktkat - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
Last night actually… a pothole took out the hubby’s right front tire. Still waiting for the cost of repairs to send in to the city with thoughts and prayers for reimbursement.
- Candy Dogood - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 2:28 pm:
I live downstate at the moment, but here’s a brief history.
2005 - Blew out a tire due to pothole on a major road near Chicagoland.
2015 - Replaced a vehicle which had blown out one tire on a pothole on a township controlled road. The same section of road put a slow leak in another tire. This specific road (required due to construction to be used to get to my house) also bent a steering rod, bent two rims, and I believe resulted in the damaged struts which caused me to replace the vehicle rather than repair it.
Current vehicle — tires earlier than expected, both steering rods so far.
I spent a decade driving in another state in very rural driving environments and did not have any of these experiences. Struts were something you replaced on a vehicle that was a decade old, steering rods were bent by collisions, not commutes.
- Fisher - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 2:35 pm:
My wife and I hit a major pothole on a Springfield area road after dark. It wasn’t a lit area and was at a bend so was impossible to see until we were on it. It caused a bubble in the tire and bent the rim, both of which had to be replaced.
- SSL - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 3:00 pm:
I don’t drive nearly as much as I used to, but I can’t ever remember damage from a pothole. Got a ding in the windshield on 57, but that wasn’t construction related. Hope I didn’t just put the whammy on myself.
- Occam - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 3:01 pm:
===IDOT claims story-
https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/04/16/idot-damage-claims-ms-dos/ ===
So, IDOT claims over a 3 year period was only $1.2 million. That’s an awful big variance compared to the $18.3 BILLION per year estimated in the study.
- Tired - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 4:19 pm:
I am not Gimme a Break’s daughter, but have had similar experience around Dwight. Two tires.
- Oldpanda - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 4:53 pm:
Lost a tire and bent a rim courtesy of a pothole the size of Evanston on I-55 north of Bloomington last winter. Only the latest of many
- A guy - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 5:43 pm:
One tire. It was only on the car for 3 weeks, so I only had to replace it and not get two. It’s the only time I bought less than 2 tires in my adult life. It was on Rte. 53 in Addison. Tons (literally) of truck traffic there. Should have avoided it in the first place. Duh.
- RNUG - Monday, Jul 8, 19 @ 5:55 pm:
== That’s an awful big variance … ==
Could be a lot of people didn’t make claims. I’m sure the new steering rack in my car was several thousand … but I had no out of pocket since the warranty covered it. Don’t know if the dealership tried to make a claim.
- Outsider - Tuesday, Jul 9, 19 @ 9:00 am:
Pot hole on off ramp of I-80 (Kedzie) caused a blowout just a couple of weeks ago