To the Editor:The Dirt On Newtown's Dirt Roads," 4/8/16.] Zoar Road and Old Mill Road provided welcome respite from some of the busier roads along my route.  In addition to passing beautiful landscapes of farms, woodlands, and antique homes, I had the enjoyment of zero traffic.  I could run fearlessly.

My weekend recreational run brought me along two of the dirt roads mentioned in The Bee's recent article. ["

According to the article, Newtown would save a lot of money in maintenance by paving roads like these.  This is true, but there are costs to paving that are not counted in dollars and cents.

One of the most dangerous roads on my running route was, in recent memory, one of Newtown's dirt roads.  New Lebbon Road was not yet paved when we moved to town in 1997.  At the time, pedestrians could travel the road without fear of being run down.  Most folks avoided driving on New Lebbon because of the ruts, bumps and occasional mud.  Rule of thumb:  Pave it and they will come.  Once it was paved, it became a favorite shortcut for commuters travelling between Routes 34 and 25.  Despite the 25 mph speed limit, the sharp curves, and the poor sight lines, drivers regularly speed along the road at 45 mph or more.  As a pedestrian, it is terrifying.  There are many spots along the road with steep embankments or thick patches of poison ivy limiting the ability to avoid being hit.  I have had a couple of close calls with speeding drivers.

New Lebbon was paved without appropriate tree removal.  Many of the trees along the road were left standing only to have half of their root systems damaged and buried under asphalt.  The weakened trees toppled during the three major storms that ground Newtown to a halt a couple of years ago.  Residents and emergency vehicles were blocked for many days following each storm.  There are still many trees on New Lebbon that are right next to the asphalt that should be removed, but we are sav-ing our maintenance money.

On the bright side, New Lebbon Road seems to be on the way to reverting to being a dirt road.  Pot-holes cover the whole length of the road with ongoing drainage problems.  Clearly, Newtown has saved a bundle on road maintenance by spending nothing.

Yes, we can save money by paving, but only if paving is done properly with thoughtful tree removal and attention to drainage patterns. Homeowners also need to be aware of the hidden costs of paving:  increased traffic, increased speed and a loss of rural charm.

For those that look forward to living on a paved road one day soon, I hope that the paving is done well and that the additional traffic sticks to the speed limit.  For those who hope to preserve their dirt roads, I wish you luck in the battle to maintain their charm.

Sincerely,

Jennifer K. Reilly

High Rock Road, Sandy Hook         April 13, 2016