Forecast: Cloudy with a chance of muddy roads

March 2, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti

March 4 UPDATE from the town offices: “All gravel roads are open to local traffic only. This will be a difficult week with the warm weather and rain. Public Works has reported that grading the roads is inadvisable right now as it does more harm than good. As we noted last week, please do not drive on a gravel road unless it is necessary. We will provide further updates as conditions change.”

Local residents will see “Road Closed” signs on most if not all of gravel roads in an attempt to limit the damages from vehicle traffic. The signs are intended to keep non-local traffic off these roads. “As weather permits we will be doing our best to make improvements to the muddy sections to help make travel easier. It is not necessary to notify us of the current conditions of the roadways. We have been out on all of them and have prioritized on our work schedule the most needed areas.  Please be safe and be patient,” the latest bulletin states.  

Anyone with an urgent need or concern may call the Public Works Director Bill Woodruff at 802-839-6199

Town updates are posted on the town of Waterbury’s Facebook page and the town website homepage at WaterburyVt.com.

Muddy conditions on Perry Hill Road recently. Photo by Gordon Miller

Waterbury town officials are alerting residents that mild temperatures and precipitation over the next several days will likely worsen conditions on gravel roads. “We expect to enter our third mud season this winter,” they say in a Friday post on the town’s Facebook page.

Public Works Director Bill Woodruff said road crews were able to get to most of the gravel roads before the weekend to ensure they are passable, with the exception of Sweet Road.

So far this winter, highway crews have put down some 2,000 yards of gravel to repair roads — about five times the usual amount. “That's a lot this time of year for repairs,” Woodruff said. “We've been through all of our stockpiles and we've trucked in more two times.”

Crews will monitor conditions and make repairs as needed in the days ahead, but they ask local residents to drive slowly on dirt roads and minimize trips to whatever extent possible.

The latest U.S. National Weather Service 10-day forecast shows daytime highs in the 40s and 50s through next week.