Roads are "horrible" in Winneshiek County

If you've traveled on a gravel road in Winneshiek County lately, you know it's been a bit of an adventure.

County Engineer Lee Bjerke says there are a number of factors producing this "perfect storm" of bad road conditions.  Budget cuts have forced the County Highway Department to spread less gravel on county roads than in past years.  That comes at a time when there's been more traffic and heavier traffic on those roads.

But the major cause of the problems has been the weather.  Last weekend's soaking rain could not run off because of the ice underneath.  That caused road surfaces to be a sloppy mess.  "They're horrible," says Bjerke.

County road crews have been doing what they can, but Bjerke says if you';re worried about your car or truck getting stuck on a sloppy gravel road, "you can imagine driving a 58,000 pound truck."

Road embargoes will go into place on Friday in an attempt to keep heavier vehicles off the soggy road surfaces.  Crews will continue to try to maintain the roads, but, admits Bjerke, "There's not much you can do."