The road crew left rough pavement

Q. This may seem like an offbeat question, but why are our streets left with rough ruts after the workers pack up and leave? Aren’t there standards or requirements that roads we pay for are smooth? Our streets were just redone recently, and now they’re filled with cut-up trenches that are going to cause accidents and car damage. What department do we complain to? We got a building permit five years ago and went through a year of headaches, from work that didn’t pass inspection to plans that were so specific that we wondered if we would ever get the permit. Is roadwork different?

A. I can see you’ve been down this road before, and maybe even around the block a time or two. The truth is that standards are no different for road construction, in terms of what the final result should be: That work must meet specific measurements, tolerances and safety levels.
Roadways are handled by either your local Highway Department or Department of Public Works, depending on whether the work is done in a local jurisdiction or on a county right-of-way. Next time you’re in the air — hopefully in an airplane — keep in mind that at least 15 percent of the land you’re looking at below comprises roadways and government land. It constitutes a big responsibility.
Lately, with utilities rushing to get gas piping in before a state moratorium takes effect, expenditures for infrastructure needing to be carried out to correct drainage and the improvement district projects being done, it seems there’s work all over the place. I’ve always said that the work done on any construction project is only as good as the last hands that touch it. The rough condition of the roadwork you’re referring to gives the impression to the public that the government doesn’t care, that the workers don’t care and that, in general, your personal transportation, that you paid a lot of money for, is expendable.
Some could rationalize that rough pavement slows down traffic and makes our roads safer, but that’s a poor excuse for leaving roads we rely on in dangerous condition, even temporarily. Just like building construction, it is unacceptable to create a public danger or nuisance. The question is whether this issue can be resolved quickly and satisfactorily. Just like the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, in which people, years later, are only just learning that they still need permits to show the repairs they made were done to legal standards, the government needs to communicate about the progress and enforcement of safety in public projects.
I would start by contacting your local elected officials. With slow results, next you can exercise your right to start a petition or a class action lawsuit. As we’ve celebrated our freedom on Independence Day, celebrate your right to free speech, and your right to vote to change the things you feel are forced upon you.

© 2022 Monte Leeper. Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, to with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.