DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa has seen a drier-than-normal fall leading to dusty gravel roads across the state.
David Summers, a Jasper County resident who frequents gravel roads, said the dust this year has been especially bad.
“Oh, the dust gets your car filthy. I mean, and also they kick up, you know, all the dust gets in your house, you know, all over everything. And it’s, you know, you can put down a there’s a thing you can put on the road to kill the dust. But with no rain, it’s is getting buried real bad,” Summers said.
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Gravel roads can be treated with a chemical spray that holds moisture on the roads helping prevent dust. However, most treatments are conducted in the spring and summer.
Heffron Services is a local Windsor Heights company that treats gravel roads for dust control.
Paul Heffron, President of Heffron Services, said the dry fall this year has extended his season.
“Our season usually starts in late March to mid-April and then generally concludes about now. But certainly, it’s dustier than normal. So we’re working later into the fall.”