Taylor city to replace rail spikes with asphalt after tire blowouts

Drivers in Taylor, Michigan, face a new standard for road safety in active construction zones as the city switches from heavy metal anchors to asphalt for securing steel plates. The change follows a series of tire failures on Goddard Road near Telegraph Road on Wednesday night that left vehicles stranded and drivers out of pocket.

Tyler King was picking up dinner when his car struck a patch of metal covering utility work. He heard a loud pop followed by the rapid loss of air from his tire. King estimated the repair cost at a minimum of 100 dollars, a sum he described as tight for his monthly budget.

King was not the only driver affected. While he was changing his tire at a nearby gas station, a blue SUV arrived at the same spot. That driver experienced the same blowout within five minutes of King's incident. The hazard was caused by railroad spikes used to anchor the steel plates over open trenches. Several of these spikes were protruding inches above the pavement, creating an unseen danger for passing traffic.

City Councilman Gerald Thomas learned of the damage late Wednesday night after King's wife posted about the incident on Facebook. Thomas left his home, put on clothes, and drove to the site. He placed traffic cones over the exposed spikes to warn drivers until the crew could return in the morning.

The construction was part of a gas line project handled by Miller Pipeline. After the tire failures, the city engineer contacted the job site foreman to address the situation. Thomas confirmed that Miller Pipeline has agreed to reimburse the King family for the damage to their vehicle.

The city is changing its approach for future projects to prevent similar issues. According to Thomas, the city engineer stated that contractors will use asphalt to secure metal plates in active work zones going forward. This replaces the railroad spikes that caused the recent blowouts. The change aims to reduce the risk to drivers navigating around utility work.

Miller Pipeline did not respond to requests for comment by Wednesday evening. Thomas asked residents who suffered tire or wheel damage on Goddard Road near Telegraph to contact his office directly. Drivers can reach the councilman's office at gthomas@cityoftaylormi.gov to report their losses.

The incident has shifted how the city manages temporary road coverage. The move to asphalt addresses the specific failure mode of the metal anchors. It ensures that the surface level of the repair is smoother for traffic. The city engineer oversaw the decision to update the method for securing plates in ongoing and future utility projects.