BOONE, IA – Boone County officials highly recommend refraining from traveling gravel roads with large load vehicles.  In fact, anything larger than a passenger vehicle like pick ups and SUVs, such as a straight truck, should stay off gravel roads.

As of Wednesday afternoon, water was over so many roads throughout the county that the Secondary Road Department was struggling to keep up with the road closures.  In fact, they possibly don’t have enough signs to mark which roads are covered with water.

Even those gravel roads that are not underwater are very soft and greasy.  Heavy vehicles on these roads could cause extensive damage.  Therefore, the rule of thumb until the roadways have a chance to dry is if you don’t have to be on a gravel road, don’t.

The Secondary Roads Department is working to open blocked culverts and drainage areas, but it will take some time.

Walters Sanitary and Tom Walters Company limited their routes to hard surface roads (no gravel) on Wednesday morning.  Similarly, school bus routes have also been adjusted to hard surface only.

Boone is in a Flood Warning through 11:30 am on March 14th.