Drivers may face a bumpy road next year as King County drastically reduces maintenance and repairs on all but the most heavily traveled arterials.

Money for local road work comes mostly from property taxes, and collections are down 18 percent over the last three years, a loss of tens of millions of dollars.

So, for 2012, King County Executive Dow Constantine plans to divide unincorporated roads into five tiers, with the highest priority for maintenance going to heavily traveled arterials connecting the largest communities.

Low priority neighborhood streets and roads would see very little or no pothole repair or snow removal. Some roads could be downgraded to gravel, others could face closure.

Next year's budget calls for 30 more job cuts in the King County roads division.

Tim Haeck, 97.3 KIRO FM Reporter

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