30 December 2023
DULUTH This winter has brought weather more characteristic of April than December, and St. Louis County roads are showing the effects.
Excessive rain and warm temperatures have left area gravel roads vulnerable to damage, and the county says its public works department is limited in what it can do to make repairs.
When the ground is soft, the weight of heavy maintenance equipment and trucks working gravel roads could cause more harm than good.
“We’re as frustrated as anyone by the current condition of our gravel roads,” said Brian Boder, St. Louis County deputy director of public works in a news release. “Our team takes a lot of pride in maintaining good roads, but Mother Nature has tied our hands a bit. Sending out equipment now can actually make road conditions worse. We ask people to please be patient while public works attempts to repair the damage.”
Crews continue to monitor road conditions and will make repairs when weather conditions allow.
“Many gravel roads are in bad condition right now,” said Boder. “We’ll do our best to repair as many as possible in whatever window of opportunity we can get. Ideally, we need a few dry days and temperatures above freezing to smooth things out before the ground refreezes or we see significant snowfall.”
Anyone who encounters unsafe road conditions can report them by calling 911.
The St. Louis County public works department is responsible for maintaining 3,000 miles of roads, approximately half of which are gravel. To learn more, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/publicworks.
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