Spring-like thaw forces school buses off gravel roads in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties

Because of the soft and muddy condition of gravel roads, the Department of Transportation and Public Works has asked the Tri-County Regional School Board not to travel with its school buses on any dirt/gravel roads in Yarmouth County. The request was made Wednesday, Jan. 9.

The Tri-County Regional School Board included Shelburne County in the bulletin during noon-hour on Thursday.

Afternoon transportation to all applicable Shelburne County students will be provided this afternoon but effective Friday, January 11, busses will not be traveling on any and all dirt/gravel roads in Yarmouth and Shelburne counties until further notice.

In Yarmouth County students will be picked up and dropped off at the nearest paved intersection or at the end of the roads.

Even the transportation department itself hasn’t been able to get its heavy equipment on the roads to conduct repairs. The department is monitoring the situation but needs colder weather to be able to get its equipment on the roads.

The school board is asking that where possible, parents ensure that their children are safely transported to and from the nearest paved intersections or at the end of the road in the mornings and afternoons until they’re advised otherwise.

Board spokesperson Joe Hazelton said Wednesday evening that the board had yet to determine how many students this will impact.

He added the board has never before received such a request at this time of the year.

Temperatures over the past week or so have been in the mid-to-high single digits with some parts of the region experiencing temperatures above the 10 degree mark, making it feel more like spring than winter. The warmer weather has caused snow and ice that had been on roads to melt.

The conditions of the roads are obviously also problematic for residents living on them.