Work Begins On Storm Damaged Independence Road
San Andreas, CA – Surveying work has begun on a section of Independence Road west of Rail Road Flat in Calaveras County that was washed out by this winter’s heavy rains two months ago.
As reported here in February, flooding and landslides on the roadway forced its closure from Deardorff to Dogwood Pass roads. Today, nearly 610 cubic yards of debris at the various sites along Independence Road were surveyed. Calaveras County Department of Public Works Deputy Director Kelly Zahniser confirmed to Clarke Broadcasting that from the results engineers have allowed for a temporary fix, which will open the roadway on Saturday. She explains, “While the debris removal is going on and planning for a permanent fix we’ll at least have one lane open. It is only going to be one lane through a couple of sections where it is very narrow. The rest of the road will be two lanes.” Signage will direct travelers at the areas where one-way traffic is implemented.
The survey information will be used in the bid package for a debris removal contract to be awarded in the next three weeks, according to Zahniser, who adds that tracking of the removal is required in order to receive state and federal funding for this disaster.
