Wapello County decides on gravel roads
Posted: 05.25.2011 at 4:57 PM
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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Wapello County officials discussed problems at a gravel road Wednesday morning.

At issue, the intersection of 163 street and Blackhawk road. The city has a contractor hauling dirt for a sewer project. As a result, many residents along the street have complained on more dirt on the roads which make it tougher to drive.

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County Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of a road embargo. That will legally prohibit all trucks to be on the road for 90 days.  Instead trucks will now have to take the Quincy Road bridge. But they will have to take three loads off in order to drive on the hard surface road.

County Supervisor Jerry Parker said that will delay project completion. But its all about safety.

"It's a safety issue. We've sat there and we watched. And as the trucks go by, it doesn't matter how much they slow down, there's so much dust on the road that you have to wait. You have to stop. And that's a real safety issue. We've been working on this for weeks. And its protecting gravel roads."

Parker said they gave the city other options; including dust controlling, but they could not afford it. The embargo goes into effect June 1