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The streets of the so-called “Student Ghetto” are full of cracked pavement, random potholes, and every other inconvenience imaginable. With how difficult it can be for students to navigate around all the potential hazards the area has, it’s a wonder that body shops aren’t the most lucrative businesses in Lawrence. One of the worst pieces of unkempt pavement is at the intersection of 12th and Ohio St.

When driving down Ohio, which is a one-way street, you must go first over a small dip in the pavement, then a massive hump, which would put some speed bumps to shame. The quick trip up and down bounces every vehicle that must cross over it to the point where everyone and everything inside is thrown around.

Aside from being rather irritating, as well as messy if you are driving with, for instance, hot coffee, this massive hump, somewhat like an inverted pothole, is also a killer on a vehicle’s alignment. I’ve learned to slow down to at least 20 mph when nearing it, but somebody unfamiliar with the area who goes much faster will have to deal with their car nearly bouncing into the air, then coming down hard on the ground. To make matters that much worse, I personally experienced problems with my tires losing air pressure the first few times I encountered the hazard, before I learned to slow down to minimize problems.

When I put in a call to Lawrence Public Works, I was directed to the office of Dina Metzger. Metzger, who can be reached at (785) 832-3134 (the general number for Street Maintenance is 832-3021), is the chief of road repairs for Public Works. While I had to settle for leaving a voice message, as she was not in her office when I called, I was able to mention the problem of the hump at the intersection of 12th and Ohio. Regardless of if I hear back from her, hopefully the problem can be taken care of soon.

There are enough problems with poorly kept roads not only in the Student Ghetto, but all around Lawrence. While it would be a nice thought if we could all just walk everywhere, which generally isn’t practical in a car-dominated culture. If the city of Lawrence wishes to do something to improve these conditions, they should start with one of the worst spots.