Do you have a particular road that you drive on that makes you want to find an alternate route?  Do you make your own detour?  I know there are a couple of roads that I drive over every day that make me wish for a new coat of tar.   

Anyway, I asked the question on social media about which roads needed some tender loving care.  I knew the responses would be good, but I had no idea the level of irritation over the state of the roads in the area.   

One respondent wrote about Elm Street in Brunswick.  You know, the road near Hannaford.  Part of the road is one way and part of it is two way.  Not having driven that road often I took the chance to give it a go.  The intersection with Middle Street could certainly see a little rehab, but in the grand scheme of things this road is not that bad. 

Someone messaged me that Jordan Avenue was rough.  Being one of the three arteries that connect the halves of Brunswick it would make sense that this road is in good repair.  Well repair would be the correct word for it.  The end of road near Federal Street has an opening between the lanes that you can clearly look onto the many layers of the road beneath.  This does not even begin to take note of the many rough spots in the road that make it look like it has been on a weeklong meth bender.   

The other end of the avenue saw the culvert become dislodged from beneath the road and was lying in the water earlier this year.  No real work has been done on the roadway to date to make sure that the culvert now stays put.  Apparently, the mantra for this road will be same refrain about the Sox from years past, “Wait ‘til next year.”  Of course, I hope you don’t fall under the road as you drive over it. 

One of the best comments I received about rough roads came from a friend of mine who is veteran of the war in Iraq.  He invited me to look at the Meadow Road in Durham.  My friend stated that he had, literally, driven on better roads in a war zone.  If you need an up armored Humvee as your daily driver on the mean streets of Durham, there might be an issue. 

By far there were two roads that I heard the most comments about.  The first was Route 1.  Unfortunately, it does not matter if you are driving north bound or south bound on Route 1 in Brunswick.  The road needs a great deal of work.   

The north bound lanes of the road seem to be separating between lanes in various places.  There is a spot near the sewer district that when you change lanes it is reminiscent of driving a boat over a wave.  You go up and then you go down.  A road should not be like that.   

The southbound lanes are not much better.  Coming out of Cook’s Corner there are several spots where you can see not only the current asphalt, but you can see the asphalt from the last paving and the paving before that.  It is a multigenerational asphalt viewing experience.  Now, this seems great for a roadway archeologist, but for the average vehicle this could get expensive. 

The road that I received the most messages, texts and comments about was Pleasant Street.  I remember when Pleasant Street was called the gateway to Brunswick.  The only thing that Pleasant Street is a gateway for is the entrance to your local mechanic. 

When you look at that street it really should be split into three different sections.  You have from the highway to the intersection with River Road.  Then you have the stretch near the Police Station to about Cushing Street.  Finally, you have the section of the road to Maine Street. 

That first section is one of the better on the street.  Once you clear the intersection heading out of town by Cumberland Farms you have fair sailing to the highway.  Heading into town there is a place where the roadway was cut up as for a new building.  The patch that was put in was great but there was not enough tar put in the hole.   

As cars ride over it they all dip to the right as the hole only covers three quarters of the lane.  As you approach the area and see the cars ahead of you shudder you think, “it cannot be that bad.”  Once you hit it and feel your car bounce back onto the pavement you can only think about how much that is eventually going to cost me. 

The area of Pleasant Street near Maine Street is pretty decent, all things considered.  There is wear and tear, but it is manageable.   

The area near the police station, specifically in the intersection with Stanwood Street, may be the worst road surface in all of Maine.  It is terrible.  Neil Armstrong has a much smoother surface to walk on when he stepped foot on the moon. 

As you approach the intersection heading toward Maine Street you have to move far to the right to avoid the largest of the potholes and bumps that exist.  Only a quick evasive turn to the left can help you avoid running into the curbing in front of the police station sign.  All in an attempt to not loosen your dental fillings.     

There have been attempts to patch the road.  You can see the debris that has washed or been lifted out of the holes.  None of the solutions have lasted long.  Anything short of a complete repaving will not fix this particular sore spot of Brunswick roads.   

Perhaps as the Town Council decides what to do with the revenue sharing windfall from the State some of these spots in Brunswick, at least, will see a little attention.  Otherwise I see a great business opportunity in front end suspensions for your local mechanic.    

Jonathan Crimmins can be reached at j_crimmins@hotmail.com.