Wall Street Journal: Locals Take Pride in Dirt Roads

You may recall the , in which we reported on some of the issues associated with dirt roads in Bedford and Lewisboro.

Safety risks, car problems and drainage and run-off were chief among the issues locals—mainly from Lewisboro and Waccabuc, where a paving project is close to getting underway— complained about.

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal story painted a picture of the attachment Bedford residents have to their dirt roads.

"Dirt is like gold," Bob Torre, president of the association told the Journal. "It's virgin, pure, and we want to keep it that way."

Another resident, Kathy Boyle, said dirt roads "signify that you live in the 'estate section' of the area, so it's more authentic Bedford." 

WSJ writer Shelly Banjo also interviewed Roger Chirico, a highway superintendent in Putnam County's Philipstown, where 70 percent of its $1.7 million annual highway budget is allocated toward dirt road maintenance, according to the Journal. Chirico was in favor of paving dirt roads given their maintenance costs.

The town of Bedford briefly considered for properties on unpaved streets to cover the added costs, but ditched the idea after deciding it was unreasonable to impose upon homeowners. The town maintains specialized equipment assigned to groom the roads regularly.

Kevin Winn, Bedford's public works commissioner, told Patch that paving dirt roads would take 10-15 years to pay for itself.

According to the Lewisboro Ledger, the town of Lewisboro is spending $300,000 to pave a 3/4 mile stretch of Waccabuc's Chapel Road, which has deteriorated causing unsafe driving conditions and runoff of dirt and road chemicals into adjacent wetland areas.

Where do you stand? Keep the dirt or invest in asphalt? Authentic or gravel-free? Weighing the up-front costs with the long-term investment toward a future of lower-maintenance costs, would you like to see the town board revive the idea of a dirt road district?

Post your comments below.