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Road Update 1.31.12

During the week of January 15, 2012, a winter storm lashed Lincoln County with heavy rainfall and strong winds.  Snow, dumped on the higher elevations by a previous storm, melted in the warmer deluge and caused various rivers and creeks to rise above flood level.  Flood waters completely submerged portions of many County roads. Other roads suffered damage as rivers and streams scoured away abutting road embankments.  Some roads were completely blocked by rock and debris slides from adjoining slopes.

During the storm event, the County Road Department responded to nearly 175 incidents at an anticipated cost approaching one and a half million dollars.  Some of these incidents, such as clogged culverts, were minor and took little time to clear.  Other incidents such as the Logsden Road Wash Out (MP 18.3) and the Old River Road Wash Out (MP 0.3) were far more devastating requiring evaluation by engineers and geologists to determine the right fix. 

As of today, January 31, 2012, most of the county’s road system is open to the traveling public - flood water has receded, rock and soil slides have been scooped off the road, drainage ditches restored, and downed trees have been cut and removed.  But the work is not finished.  Given the magnitude of damage to the road system, efforts to repair the county roads will be ongoing for the next several months. 

Roads still closed and undergoing repair include:

Logsden Road (pictured above.) This rural major collector road suffered a large slide that cut away over a lane of road surface.  After careful evaluation, it has been determined that the slope can be rebuilt with suitable sized rock.  The effort will begin the week of February 6, 2012 and should be completed by March 1, 2012.  Logsden Road at MP 18.3 will remain closed until the repair work is completed. 

Harlan Road (pictured above,) contained no fewer than six major wash out areas with numerous smaller shoulder washouts.  County road workers removed a large volume of slide material from the road’s surface as well.  Intermittent road closures (closure during work hours only, with off hour access permitted) will continue for the rest of this week.  It is anticipated that repair work will be completed by Friday February 3, 2012. 

Old River Road (pictured above.) A substantial section of this residential road dropped fifteen to twenty feet.  The wooded area between the road and the Siletz River remains unstable.  A geotechnical investigation started Monday should be completed by the end of this week (Friday February 3, 2012) and a report delivered to Public Works by the end of the following week (February 10, 2012). Decisions on the next step will take place after review of the data.  Construction for the repair of this road could take a number of months to complete.  The Road Department will provide a more accurate timeline once a decision has been reached on the appropriate fix. 

Lincoln County Public Works appreciates the patience of our citizens we continue the repairs of the county road network.  We are committed to getting our road system back to normal as quickly as possible. 

Steve Hodge, P.E. - Asst. Public Works Director