UPDATE: Local crews make progress on mud season road work
March 7, 2024 | By Lisa ScagliottiSATURDAY, March 9, UPDATE
Duxbury officials report that the road crew completed grading on Friday and residents are asked to still limit travel on dirt roads to minimize ongoing damage. Note regarding this weekend’s incoming storm: Given the muddy conditions, highway staff will not be able to plow snow with heavy tandem trucks. Plowing will need to be done using pickups. Residents are alerted to plan for difficult conditions given the forecast for heavy rain followed by snow.
THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE
Local road crews were busy on Thursday carefully grading some of the worst sections of muddy backroads and putting down new gravel in some areas. Officials from Duxbury and Waterbury shared messages by late afternoon updating residents on progress from their highway departments.
“I am happy to report that Duxbury roads have improved,” Duxbury Selectboard Chair Richard Charland wrote in an email to residents. “Let me stress that things are nowhere close to 100%, however, the road crew was able to run the grader across almost all of the roads.”
Likewise, Waterbury Municipal Manager Tom Leitz posted an update on the town Facebook page sharing that “The highway department was able to grade several roads today and fill in some of the worst areas with stone,” he wrote. “They hope to take advantage of the colder weather tonight and will be starting their workday at 1 a.m. tomorrow morning. Their dedication is certainly appreciated!”
A school bus heads back to the paved part of Blush Hill Road after making a stop on Wednesday afternoon in heavy rain. Buses have been rerouted to pick up and drop off students near intersections with dirt roads to avoid traveling on them. Photo by Gordon Miller
One particularly muddy area near the intersection of River Road and Camels Hump Road in Duxbury prompted a Vermont State Police alert urging motorists to avoid the area Thursday afternoon. The road crew managed to address it with more gravel for it to be passable by the end of the day, Charland noted.
Residents on all non-paved roads are urged to minimize travel to avoid more damage. Friday’s weather forecast is for mild temperatures, sunshine and no precipitation, “hopefully ideal conditions to revisit the roads with the grader,” Charland wrote.
Also in Duxbury, the south end of Crossett Hill Road – with the steep hill to Rt. 100 – is very soft and drivers should use caution, Charland said. That section will get attention on Friday before more rain and snow moves in over the weekend, he noted.
“We ask everyone to please use good judgment in planning their travel. As always, please communicate with us any problem areas or questions you may have.”
Contact information: In Waterbury, anyone with an urgent need or concern related to road conditions may call Public Works Director Bill Woodruff at 802-839-6199. In Duxbury, Charland asks residents to contact him regarding roads or with any requests for assistance (see original story below) at rlcharland.duxburyvt@gmail.com or 802-249-2772.
Duxbury issues alert to assist those impacted by poor road conditions
Late Wednesday, Duxbury town officials sent a message to residents on the town email list with the latest road report and offers of assistance to anyone unable to leave their homes due to the poor road conditions.
“There should be no unnecessary travel on any of the town roads at this time. Camels Hump mail service is suspended, school buses are not running, commercial traffic should be avoided,” according to the announcement from Selectboard Chair Richard Charland. “The road crew has been working to keep roads as passable as possible and we have almost expended our reserve supply of gravel.”
Several days of rain combined with melting has left many town gravel roads difficult at best to navigate and some spots impassable to many vehicles.
“The winter of 23/24 is proving to be an unfortunate challenge not only in Duxbury, but a number of towns in Vermont. We are currently going through our fourth Mud Season ahead of our normal Mud Season,” Charland wrote.
Checks with officials in neighboring communities found similar circumstances, he said. Waterbury, for example, has posted and put up “closed” signs on its dirt roads asking motorists to limit use to residents and hold off on commercial activity that requires trucks. Highway departments are unable to run graders and trucks without causing additional damage. The Harwood school district has modified its school bus routes to limit bus activity to paved roads by setting pickup and dropoff points where dirt roads intersect with paved ones.
“Getting through this will require everyone’s patience and fortitude,” Charland said.
The communication covers several important topics: the most serious road conditions, residents in need of medication, grocery delivery and any other assistance.
Camels Hump Road
The worst conditions are on Camels Hump Road which had a similar situation in December. Highway Foreman Brian Gibbs attempted to make some improvement on Wednesday but “it was a futile effort,” Charland said.
Given the weather forecast, the road crew is looking to return to the road after rain subsides today. “With better weather in the next couple of days, we hope to address as much as we can in anticipation of a return to colder weather with the possibility of snow on Sunday,” the message explains.
Medication pickup
Charland said there are volunteers able to assist anyone in need of picking up prescription medications from Kinney Drugs. “I spoke with one of the pharmacists this afternoon. He said they would release the prescription to someone to transport it to the customer,” Charland said.
Customers would need to contact the pharmacy and make payments first. Customers should call the pharmacy to make arrangements at 802-244-8458. Charland offered his contact information to anyone looking to arrange for a delivery: rlcharland.duxburyvt@gmail.com or 802-249-2772.
Groceries & other assistance
For those unable to leave their homes, volunteers can assist with delivering groceries purchased using the online ordering system at Shaw’s, Charland said. “We will try and facilitate the delivery for those in dire need. We will provide this until we get the road passable.”
The message notes that the Waterbury Fire Department and Waterbury Ambulance Service have been notified about the situation. Anyone in critical need of a fuel delivery or any other assistance can contact Charland to arrange for help from volunteers and the road crew if necessary.
The bulletin ends with a positive note that several sections of road that were rebuilt after last summer’s flood have held up well so far. “We will use that model going forward as often as we can given available funding,” Charland said.
In closing, the message acknowledges that spring awaits on the other side of mud season: “We are closer to spring as we move clocks forward this weekend, let us work together to keep everyone safe and we will get through this.”
Contact Selectboard Chair Richard Charland at rlcharland.duxburyvt@gmail.com or 802-249-2772. Sign up to receive emails from Duxbury town officials using the online form on the town website (“Email List” tab at the top of the home page).