Remember back in August when we reported on the washboards covering most of Dorchester's gravel streets?
Two months later, the problem is even worse. Were aren't so sure Village Hall is even listening.
Two months later, the problem is even worse. Were aren't so sure Village Hall is even listening.
In particular, we've heard several residents upset by the washboards -- or the "thousands of little speed bumps," as one of our neighbors called them -- that have afflicted gravel streets in town.
In August, the Times staff has surveyed Dorchester's gravel streets and we found that nearly 60 percent have washboards.
As of today, our count shows that more than 75% of the gravel streets have them. To our knowledge, the village employees have not yet tried to address the situation.
As of today, our count shows that more than 75% of the gravel streets have them. To our knowledge, the village employees have not yet tried to address the situation.
Washboards make driving on your street uncomfortable, on top of causing damage to your vehicle. It can torture your suspension system, increase your maintenance costs, and make carrying tools or other materials in the bed of your truck nearly impossible. And if you're towing anything behind your vehicle, you better hope it can handle the extra strain.
When it comes down to it, a city government's top priorities are streets, water and sewer, and electricity. Everything else is way down the priority list.
We aren't sure how washboards form -- and why they get worse. (It appears speeds over 20 miles per hour play a large role in their formation.) But it's clear there has been some neglect in working to remove these public nuisances in Dorchester.
While the village applied a boatload of new gravel to the streets in early spring, the foundation was untouched -- now drivers are paying the price. On some streets, we've seen drivers opt to drive on the grass instead of taking the gravel washboards.
That's just not right.
It appears there is absolutely no push to pave more Dorchester streets. At the very least, driving on our gravel streets should not be a completely miserable experience for residents or their vehicles.
This is nothing new. Dorchester has had washboard streets for a very long time. They can be fixed I have been told. Not only is it hard on vehicles but dangerous as well' Maybe some County Drivers would know how to put down the blade deep enough to make a difference.
ReplyDeleteCan't even get gravel on country roads super of saline county won't allow it and at least Dorchester has gravel
DeleteThe county superintendent won't even let the maintainer drivers do there job no gravel on country roads at least Dorchester has gravel
Deleteis there any way we can call the state or county if our local streets are causing damage to our cars?
ReplyDeletecall Ernie chambers!!!!
ReplyDeleteonly if mountain lions are in those ruts
DeleteHas anybody,driven on Lincoln streets? I"d say ours are in pretty good shape compared to those pot holes that tear tires right off the rims. Maybe we should put in a wheel tax, seems to help their... The state and county are a little more broke than Dorchester , good luck
ReplyDeleteIt had to cost thousands of $$$$ to dump so much gravel on the streets this spring. I could barely drive my small truck with small through that crap and it made a real mess on our paved streets. It would cost $100 in fuel and another $100 in labor to take a maintainer and properly remove those ruts on the streets right now. I can't believe they're that bad. The county took care of the street going south out of town so thanks for mentioning this issue on the blog
DeleteYes have the county maintainers come by they can grade them down and turn what little gravel is on the county road to dirt . Oh but only problem you still have wash boards just no gravel but seems taxes go up all the time. Get some people out there that knows how to grade !!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe maintainers guys who do the grading, are doing the best with what they got. If you what to complain, don't complain to them, you call the highway superintendent in saline county, they are the ones you need to talk too. But it seems its much easier to complain about something a lot of people don't know about.
ReplyDeleteregarding the town's streets I guess I don't understand why people wouldn't call to complain each and every day until something is done. sadly it seems like government officials and employees at the local, state and federal levels won't be proactive anymore until they have a groundswell of complainers who are fed up and won't take it anymore. we work hard, our government should do the same
ReplyDeletePersonally I wish the streets in Dorcheseter were a lot rougher than they are maybe that
ReplyDeletewould slow people down. One of these days a small child is going to get killed by these people driving way too fast. Thats why they build speed bumps in the big cities. We have several speed bumps but it doesn't slow people down. If the streets are so rough then I would think people would slow down. Must not be rough enough
Report them to the sheriff's dept. It's not hard. (402) 821-2111 is their number
DeleteBy the time any one from the sheriff's dept. would get to Dorchester, those speeders are long gone. I remember kids "dragging" on main street after football games in the 70's. You knew how long you could get away with it before someone would call the sheriff & how long it would be before a sheriff's patrol car would arrive. You also knew after which games a patrol car would just happen to be cruising the streets.
Delete