Following a week of wet weather, many gravel roads throughout Marion County have deteriorated. County Engineer Tyler Christian says that depending on when roads were last treated, the intense dryness followed by persistent rainfall has created rough conditions in many areas.

“It had been so dry that traffic had worn out any gravel crust that we had in the wheel tracks. Immediately getting rain after a holiday weekend when no blading was taking place, those areas can quickly turn to rutted up or slimy areas. Areas we had bladed when it was dry may be pretty slimy with lime dust and may appear to be muddy and sloppy. Some roads are in decent shape, and those harder roads, you may start to see potholing. When folks encounter those areas, we just ask them to use their caution to get through it.”

Christian adds that people should inform the Road Department of any areas that need attention, and to not assume that the department is aware of a particular spot.