Rutland roads are not good, but I doubt they're any worse than in most Vermont large towns.

What I'd like to focus on is state highways where the lines painted on the road with reflective paint - what can help especially at night time or in rain - are in may places all but worn off. At night it can be very hard to see curves in
the road, new turning lanes, as well as which lane is the "sraight" lane.

Add to that, the road signs hidden by shrub and tree ranches, and I have to wonder why the state is spending good money to mow the roadsides all summer long with gasoline priced as it is. And let's not forget man-hours spent mowing down weeds along the road. Why? If tree branches blocking road signs
aren't a problem, and missing guidelines on the pavement aren't as problem, certainly those daisies aren't hurting anybody. I've also heard on VPR that a very pernicious weed is being spread all over the state by this mowing. Before
we feel too sorry for the DOT, I'd like so see them rearrange their maintenance priorities.

Al, Rutland
Posted by Tim Johnson, online producer

I live in Montpelier, and the roads are absolutely deplorable. There is not one road that without need of serious repair! The potholes are damaging to cars, the paint has all but faded from the roads, and the snow removal this winter was a joke. My husband-to-be walks to work, and his walk time has doubled due to the inadequate snow removal on the sidewalks. On Cummings Street, the bridge needs replacing: it's not wide enough for two lanes, and there are two holes through the pavement of the bridge that give a beautiful view of the water beneath. I have, however, seen the Montpelier road crews out spot-paving, and that was nice to see: but more is needed--especially on the Barre-Montpelier Road!

As a resident of Newbury, which has more dirt roads than any other town in the state, I'm accustomed to frost heaves and rotten road conditions at this time of the year. What troubles me most are the state roads and highways. My commute to work takes me on Interstate 91 between Bradford and St. Johnsbury. They repaved the south bound lane between Barnet and Wells River just last summer, and yet the entire surface is now lying in the median (the "black snow" looks rather unusual) ...aside from the environmental impact, i'm concerned about who paid for the job last summer, and who's going to pay for it again this summer. Maybe the state should question the paving company? I mean, did they REALLY intend on getting only 6 months of travelable roads out of the deal? There really isn't a road I've travelled on this year (and I go far and wide, as my son's a hockey player) that isn't "affected"...and many bridges seem in desperate need of attention as well. This is gonna take a lot of bake sales to finance.

Paige, West Newbury
Posted by Tim Johnson VPR Online Producer

VT Rte 122, in some sections around Wheelock, Sheffield, and over the'Heights' can no longer be seriously considered a paved highway. It's so rough plowing is ineffectual, and the speed limit for those not wishing to damage their car is about 20 mph. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. Another two inch lift of asphalt isn't the answer; some sections need total reconstruction down, perhaps, 5 feet below the pavement, to include real ditches, and functioning culverts. Unfortunately, the state will never be able
to afford real repairs, only another band-aid of resurfacing that will break up again in a couple of years. This isn't VTrans' fault either; it's ours, for perpetuating a system that doesn't fund highway repair at a reasonable level...

Al, Sheffield
Posted by Tim Johnson VPR Online Producer

The roads in Roxbury are just what you'd expect this time of year - trouble. Roxbury actually does a great job of maintaining the roads. In a place like VT, with our winters and thaws and mud, this is a phenomenal task and we should only expect so much. I never expect the paved roads to be smooth as silk, nor should we. A few bumps in the road is the price we pay for living in a wonderfully rural state and it should stay that way. When the potholes start blowing out tires, or the roads become impassable, sure, we pay taxes for just that thing. Could the roads be better, absolutely, if we transitioned all the federal money spent on building roads in "roadless areas" and national and state forests, to maintaining roads and infrastructure in our states, we'd have plenty of money and work for people to do.

I am writing this as a recently "done" selectman of 9 years. Our gravel roads are in decent condition, facilitated by material which we excavate from our own gravel pit. However, our 7 miles of paved roads are rapidly going downhill. We are currently considering grinding them and putting them back into gravel, as the price of blacktop has become prohibitive. I blame both the Bush administration and its disastrous re-aligning of priorities, the failed energy policy, the incredible, untrammeled greed of the oil companies, and the Douglas administration for the declining condition of our state highways and bridges, and the inability of towns to maintain our roads. The state could do far more to assist towns, with increased cost-share monies (put a tax on fuel, for heaven's sake - the oil companies have increased the price 40% in the past year - what would a few more cents matter?), a stream-lining of the transportation planning process (projects take 5-20 years to complete - that is plain absurd - put the whole agency on an emergency basis, with goal to plan and permit projects in 6 months tops - it can be done), and provision of State of Vt. buying of all municipal fuel, equipment, and materials at cost plus - if the state of Vt., for instance brokered for the purchase of all municipal fuel, bought underground 10,000 tanks and accelerated the permit process, towns could save a huge amount of $, which could go to transportation projects. AOT is only maintaining a stop-gap maintenance of our roads and bridges - a few miles of Rte 16 were just re-paved, and though the surface is barely 6 months old, it is already cracked and deteriorating, as the sub-structure of the road was not rebuilt. That road takes as much traffic as the interstate, but it is not upgraded. This is typical of the myopic state transportation policy. It can be improved. Obviously, increased priority to rebuilding our public transportation system is a concomittant need. However, economic development, based on large commercial vehicles, is directly tied to the efficiency of the road system, never mind the improvements to passenger cars. Nicholas Ecker-Racz Glover

Vermonters depend on esthetics. Tourism is our biggest source of income. Whether it be our elimination of bill-boards or the way we maintain our gold dome, our State government and most of us as individuals strive to keep our state neat and tidy.

Esthetics dictate that Vermont's public buildings be well maintained. What about Vermont's public bridges?

Recently an inquiry was made about the Route 244 bridge crossing Middlebrook as it reaches Lake Fairlee in West Fairlee. To an untrained eye, the concrete of the bridge is progressively deteriorating. The Vermont Department of Transportation last inspected the bridge in 2005 and will do so again this year. On review of its records and of the photo taken this Labor Day, 2007 [attached] VTrans asserted in an email of September 5 that, "this bridge is sound despite some of its esthetic issues."

If only on "esthetic" grounds, this bridge appears to need attention. As a "Welcome to Vermont" structure, it falls short. It may not be "broke", but it sure "needs fixin'".

Jim, West Fairlee
Posted by Tim Johnson, VPR News Online Producer

I live in Montgomery, VT. I commune daily to Johnson State College for my education. I also have a short, but very bumpy commute of 3 miles to my job at the Belfry restuarant. Route 118 is horrible. After rain huge deep and ragged holes cause unexpected jolts to my car. Occasionally these holes are filled with loose gravel that serves only as a camofoulge to the booby trap below. the mountain road to Jay and 118 have speed limits of 50mph, and sometimes you can acheive this speed but you better be ready to slow down to 20mph and still risk bottoming out in the fruquent "bumps" in the roads.

Mary, Montgomery
Posted by VPR News Online Producer, Tim Johnson

In Strafford, our roads are so bad that it is more efficient to post warnings about the GOOD stretch, the one mile of new road, one-half of the Justin Morrill Highway between South Strafford and Strafford Village. (See attached photo.)

I've attached a photo taken today from my road, what is usually seen as a well-traveled, paved, scenic byway from Barnet to Danville. This photo was taken about 30 minutes after I crashed my car quite swiftly into the side of an ice bank because I didn't stay right in the middle of the rut. Note that there is no sand on this part of the ice covered road. Have we a sand shortage in Vermont? Apparently we do in my town because this road is horrible in spots! Had we some sand there I am fairly certain that I would have continued to make it to the end of my road at my leisurely pace of 5 mph, I would have an extra $500 in my pocket (insurance deductable I now have to pay) and you would not be reading my post here!

Everybody is grousing about the roads in Vermont these days. Perhaps this is the time to turn a negative into a positive. So, here goes:

“You know the skiing in Vermont is great but now we are offering another exciting sport.....Pot Hole Slalom. Anyone can join in. All you need is to strap on your car or SUV (or truck if you come from here) and hit the road. To
meet your level of skill we can offer bunny roads all the way to black diamond roads. If you’re new to this sport start with a beginner road like 103. Then you could graduate to a intermediate road like 133 between West Rutland
and Pawlet. Then you could go for the Black Diamond of Pot Hole Slalom, 140 between Middletown Springs and Poultney.

If you think down hill skiing is exciting you will love Pot Hole Slalom. Weaving back and forth between pot holes is demanding but wait, there’s an added challenge, oncoming traffic. Yes, here they come, also weaving back and
forth to miss the pot holes, something you just can’t get on the ski slopes. Come to Vermont. Join in the fun even before you get to the snowy slopes. Yes,
it’s Vermont for the real thrills in the hills.

Doyle, Middletown Springs
Posted by VPR News Online Producer, Tim Johnson

Dear VPR,
I want to say that the roads in Peacham are terrible and dangerous. This is very apparent when one drives on adjoining town roads and which are much improved. But what I really would like to talk about is this:Peacham applied for and received a Federal Grant for Better Back Roads for the last two years. This grant was for the purpose of cleaning ditches of possible toxins that could erode into our lakes and streams.Peacham's solution to ridding themselves of their road tailings from all over the town was to "give" it away as fill to residents who were told "it's only dirt".
Now we have multiple situations through out or town where this "dirt" has been deposited. Some of it is in extremely environmentally sensitive areas.One example is the photo that is being shown. After reading all the recommendations and data supplied by EPA which is available for anyone to read,one learns that there are many many toxins listed as COMMONLY found in rural dirt roads... Because Vermont State does not test for many of these toxins, we are not able tell what exactly might be in this dirt dug from the sides of the roads.These could include many years past of products used for dust maintenance,along with other seriously dangerous toxins. I would like to know if this what other towns in Vermont are doing to get rid of their ditch dirt also? And also, does the State of Vermont consider this acceptable practice?
Stan, Peacham
Posted by VPR News Online Producer, Tim Johnson

The worst road in Vermont is VT 114 from Island Pond to Norton. I defy anyone to find a road in worse shape anywhere. It is so bad the beer trucks have breakage of bottles just getting there. It is actually dangerous 12 months of the year, not just in springtime. You are taking your life in your hands driving a motorcycle on that road. I drive it every day and have seen some scary near-accidents.

Regarding the roads in and around Middlebury, a line from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" suggests itself. Mercutio, engaged in a swordfight with Tybalt, has just been skewered because well-intentioned Romeo decided to try breaking it up. His friends ask if his wound is bad. He replies, "'Tis neither deep as a well nor as wide as a church door, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve."

Route 25 from Bradford all the way to Route 302 is in rough shape this spring, with numerous large potholes.

To my simplistic way of thinking most frost heaves and subsequent potholes result from drainage problems (pockets of clay and such that freeze and expand). Most of the repairs seem to be superficial band-aids, doomed to last only until the next winter.

I would advocate a more focused and disciplined approach to highway repair. Rather than performing numerous superficial "fixes", focus on truly fixing a small number of trouble spots every year. This would likely entail tearing up the asphalt, digging out the subgrade, placing gravel (and or drains), and finally replacing the asphalt.

Tossing a few shovel fulls of asphalt into a pothole is money poorly spent in my opinion.

Up here next to the border in Holland, the roads leave a lot to be desired. Washboard doesn't even begin to describe the roads (95% of the roads are dirt in Holland). Even the main paved road consists of many frost heaves. The roads will be even worse once it warms up.

I live in Norton and it is comical to drive on Rte 114 heading south. There is one sign that warns of bumps, but I think they should put a sign that says " Bumps, frost heaves, pot holes and deep canyons, next 30 miles" We should all submit our vehicle repair bills to the Department of Transportation since they don't seem to want to do anything about the disrepair on the roads.

Cindy, Norton
Posted by VPR Online News Producer, Tim Johnson

This photo illustrates how overloaded trucks dominate and destroy our highways such as Route 100 which were never designed for large trucks that now travel on these roads. Trucks that carry Chittenden County garbage all the way to Lake Memphemagog are constantly dominating these roads. For conserving energy, trash originating in Chittenden County (and elsewhere) should be taken care of at point of orgin.

I'm not sure how you would know that this truck is overweight, the truck appears to be configured with the proper equipment to apply for the proper permits. Do you have inside infomation on the trucks permits? If the truck has the permits that the state will issue the trucking company on a yearly basis for about 350 dollars ( only good on state road systems not on the interstate system I-91, I-89, I-189 ).The chances that he is overwieght are slim to none because you can only put so much concrete in this truck and it's full,and most likely legal weight with the proper permits. As for the trash being shipped back and forth across the state you can fix that, just convince all the towns in Vermont to build recyling facitilies one each for plastic, wood, rubber bio waste & hasmat waste etc. If you are concerned about the weight of these trash trucks most of them don't even apply for weight permits because most of the time you can't put enough on to be overweight in the first place. Hope this reply helps shape your opinon of the trucks that travel through Vermont. Without these trucks on the road systems you would starve and freeze, everything comes on a truck, right down to the fillings in your teeth, so don't be so hard on this industry it plays the biggest role there is in the United States ecconomey, without them your goods and services for the whole country would come to a screaching stop. I've been around trucking for 28 years, it's hard to keep the trucking industry in a good light when people talk without having all the facts. Don't just hate trucking because it's a truck these are just men and women trying to feed thier children and put a roof over thier heads. Thanks

All that may be true, but semi's are becoming obsolete...we need to be using more rail transportation for both people and goods. Small trucks(like Ryder trucks etc.)and cargo vans should be used to hall goods from a centrally located distribution center to wherever it is supposed to go, which would save gas, wear and tear on roads, and would employ many more people than the trucking industry does now. Things aren't like they were 28 years ago...there are alot more vehicles on the road, and truckers aren't trained well the way they used to be. I am sure you are a great and safe driver but many of your fellows are not and are down right dangerous...Semi's have no business on little narrow two lane roads or trying to negotiate Burlington or Rutland's narrow little streets(or Montpelier's, or Barre's etc.,etc.,).