Sandman
Aug 01, 2007, 07:35 AM
Road 222 in North Fork will receive a facelift now that the Board of Supervisors OK'd a $1.5 million project that would eliminate the road's hairpin turn and replace a narrow bridge prone to overflowing.
The project, which has been in the making since 1993, was one of four possible options presented to the board last week and the most expensive.
"It raises the price," said Supervisor Tom Wheeler, whose district includes North Fork, "but why spend (less) and do it the wrong way? It's not rational."
Road 222, also known as Auberry Road, serves the communities of North Fork, Bass Lake and Auberry in Fresno. It is also a bus route to Sierra Union High School and an access route for PG&E to its Wishon Hydroelectric Powerhouse.
The 15-foot-long Willow Creek Bridge spans Road 222 at the creek. During the rainy season, Willow Creek water levels rise to flood the bridge and roadway. The bridge was flooded and damaged in 1993 and again in 1997.
The proposed project will realign Road 222, removing a sharp turn and pushing the road north. It will also include building a new 65-foot bridge about 50 feet north of its current location.
After the 1993 flood, the county received funds to replace the bridge. However, the project was delayed over the years. Now, about 33 percent of the project will be paid with those funds, with the remainder possibly being borrowed from Measure T and repaid later.
Dan Goode, tribal chairman of the North Fork Mono tribe, said waiting 14 years to complete the project was "kind of ridiculous," but he was glad it was moving forward.
"We're pretty happy about it," he said, "pretty elated."
Goode said the tribe is in complete support of the design plan since it will move the road and bridge out of an archaeological site, which was established in the 1970s. Artifacts such as bowls and arrowheads have been found in the area. So far, he said, no archaeological finds have been recorded in the road's new destination.
He also said eliminating the hairpin turn will reduce the number of crashes in the area.
The supervisors agreed, touting safety over the $1.5 million project cost.
"We're not saving anything but a lot of lives," said Wheeler, who had two friends die on the turn two years ago.
"As far as safety goes, you can't beat it," Supervisor Ronn Dominici said. "It's a no-brainer."
County Road Commissioner Johannes Hoevertsz said Road 222 will probably be widened, too, although the plans are still preliminary. He said extensive environmental study needs to be conducted before construction begins. Also, since some of the area is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and PG&E, the county needs to obtain easements.
Wheeler said he hopes to see the road completed sometime in 2008.
via Madera Tribune (http://topix.net/r/07lUe3DDGoDdEToce6O4L2X5weIgEd5E1BpLeRIhBphji2zpxs =2FKC6H2OzxzHtgKKRLWBkPCG6e3lIRXYkMv=2BbRgF0kXgr91 X3gQgbhxg=2Fy0vI1HXaSVS6twPHeOVHuu4)
Shown is the preliminary design for Road 222 improvements approved by the county last week. The project will remove a sharp turn and replace Willow Creek bridge, pushing the road north. Photo by: Special to The Madera Tribune
The project, which has been in the making since 1993, was one of four possible options presented to the board last week and the most expensive.
"It raises the price," said Supervisor Tom Wheeler, whose district includes North Fork, "but why spend (less) and do it the wrong way? It's not rational."
Road 222, also known as Auberry Road, serves the communities of North Fork, Bass Lake and Auberry in Fresno. It is also a bus route to Sierra Union High School and an access route for PG&E to its Wishon Hydroelectric Powerhouse.
The 15-foot-long Willow Creek Bridge spans Road 222 at the creek. During the rainy season, Willow Creek water levels rise to flood the bridge and roadway. The bridge was flooded and damaged in 1993 and again in 1997.
The proposed project will realign Road 222, removing a sharp turn and pushing the road north. It will also include building a new 65-foot bridge about 50 feet north of its current location.
After the 1993 flood, the county received funds to replace the bridge. However, the project was delayed over the years. Now, about 33 percent of the project will be paid with those funds, with the remainder possibly being borrowed from Measure T and repaid later.
Dan Goode, tribal chairman of the North Fork Mono tribe, said waiting 14 years to complete the project was "kind of ridiculous," but he was glad it was moving forward.
"We're pretty happy about it," he said, "pretty elated."
Goode said the tribe is in complete support of the design plan since it will move the road and bridge out of an archaeological site, which was established in the 1970s. Artifacts such as bowls and arrowheads have been found in the area. So far, he said, no archaeological finds have been recorded in the road's new destination.
He also said eliminating the hairpin turn will reduce the number of crashes in the area.
The supervisors agreed, touting safety over the $1.5 million project cost.
"We're not saving anything but a lot of lives," said Wheeler, who had two friends die on the turn two years ago.
"As far as safety goes, you can't beat it," Supervisor Ronn Dominici said. "It's a no-brainer."
County Road Commissioner Johannes Hoevertsz said Road 222 will probably be widened, too, although the plans are still preliminary. He said extensive environmental study needs to be conducted before construction begins. Also, since some of the area is owned by the U.S. Forest Service and PG&E, the county needs to obtain easements.
Wheeler said he hopes to see the road completed sometime in 2008.
via Madera Tribune (http://topix.net/r/07lUe3DDGoDdEToce6O4L2X5weIgEd5E1BpLeRIhBphji2zpxs =2FKC6H2OzxzHtgKKRLWBkPCG6e3lIRXYkMv=2BbRgF0kXgr91 X3gQgbhxg=2Fy0vI1HXaSVS6twPHeOVHuu4)
Shown is the preliminary design for Road 222 improvements approved by the county last week. The project will remove a sharp turn and replace Willow Creek bridge, pushing the road north. Photo by: Special to The Madera Tribune