Overview
- An 18-year-old, Ali Chami/Chahine, bought about $60 of asphalt at Home Depot and filled potholes on Cherry Hill Road near Beech Daly, posting a TikTok that drew hundreds of thousands of views after repeated tire damage costing him more than $600.
- City leaders said a $2.6 million federal grant will fund a full rebuild from Gully to Inkster, with construction expected to start June 1, following the viral attention to the DIY patch job.
- Public Works Director John Danci said crews will place proper cold patch over the teen’s repairs and urged residents to report hazards rather than work in traffic without training or safety gear.
- Danci explained that freeze–thaw cycles and rain loosen temporary material, which is why quick patches often pop out, and he said the road has been queued for years under county federal‑aid and shared‑jurisdiction processes that slow bidding.
- Mayor Mo Baydoun thanked the teen for raising awareness and highlighted the grant, while DPW noted it is still finalizing schedule details and warned that the full reconstruction will bring traffic disruption for drivers who use the route daily.