STAMFORD, Vt. (AP) – Talk about a rough ride: Residents of this southern Vermont town say metal debris in a gravel road is flattening their car tires.

The problem with Lesure Road apparently began after new material was added to it during spring maintenance.

“It’s like playing Russian roulette with four bullets in a six-bullet gun,” said Robert O’Neil, who lives on the road.

He’s had tires punctured seven times since early July, he said. Each time it happened, he got out of his car and searched for the cause but found nothing – in the road, or in the tire.

David Whitcomb, another resident to complain to the Select Board on Thursday, said he had lost two tires but was able to plug four flats stemming from the road’s condition. He believes metal debris from recycled material used to lay the base of the road – combined with a thaw last winter and grading activity – was the cause.

Board member David Saldo says Lesure Road experienced similar problems around 2005 and that the town reimbursed people for damages then. At least three contractors have put recycled materials down on the road, but he doesn’t know which may have contained debris, he said.

The next possible step would be to grade the road and then comb it with a metal detector, Saldo said.

O’Neil says he has a better idea: Dragging a large magnet over the road.

—

Information from: Bennington Banner, http://www.benningtonbanner.com

AP-ES-08-16-08 1115EDT

Copy the Story Link