[weirdkid]

Or, it's the sandy base you get when geographically surrounded by water. Or, it's the laws that removed weight limits for the trucking industry. Or, it's the lack of funds in poor areas. Or, it's the extreme changes in temperature combined with high water tables and wet weather. Or, it's a combination of all the above.

[smashingfiasco]

It's a combination. Plus it seems like the region has replaced manufacturing with never-ending construction.

I don't live in Detroit, I'm nearby in Toledo.