top of page

Q: Can you apply dust control to my gravel road?

A: SCRC pays to dust control our primary gravel road system one time and typically apply the chloride near the end of May or early June depending on weather. The townships pay for dust control applications on the county local road system and determine how much of a road and how often a road will receive an application of chloride. SCRC grades all the roads ahead of the dust control application to make it last longer; grading the gravel after the dust control is applied will quickly reduce the benefits of the chloride application.

Q: Why is this road being worked on when mine looks so much worse?

A: It can be frustrating to see crews working on roads in better condition than other deteriorated roads. There is a reason for this though and it includes cost efficiency and extending the service life of roads. Treatments, or construction, on roads in fair or good condition are like routine oil changes for your car and extend the life of the roadway rather than waiting for the road to deteriorate to poor condition which then increases the expenses to repair the road. This practice is referred to as pavement preservation. SCRC uses a "mixes of fixes" approach to maintain the county's road network by combining pavement preservation, resurfacing and reconstruction techniques. SCRC's goal is to maximize the miles in good and fair condition within the boundaries of available funding.

Q: Can you grade my gravel road? It's in bad shape.

A: SCRC does not and cannot grade gravel roads at any time during the summer months. If the gravel is too dry it will not compact very well and quickly becomes rough again. If the gravel is too wet, grading the road will create a layer of mud on the road surface. If the gravel has been treated with chloride, grading the road will decrease the life of the chloride and lead to dusty conditions quicker. When the conditions are right, SCRC does grade all gravel roads to the best of our ability while staying within our financial means.

Q: Why did you cut down the trees on my road?

A: Trees and brush along the side of the road provide shade to the road increasing the time it takes to melt ice and snow during winter operations and increasing the time it takes to dry out in the spring. The trees and brush can also be hazardous for drivers should they leave the roadway and also decreases the sight distance for motorists.

bottom of page