Spur Ranch Road - 7:00 a.m. Update 04_04_2012

Good morning,

Spur Ranch Road at 7:00 a.m. has improved over yesterday. It is still slippery, but if  you hold your speed to 15 mph, stay away from the sides, and are very cautious passing road machinery, you shouldn’t have any trouble. Volunteer flaggers are on duty at each end of the road and will give drivers updated information as it becomes available.

 

No word yet, on Avenida de las Compadres, so it’s probably best avoided at this point.

Jim

Spur Ranch Road - Evening Update 04_03_2012

Dear Neighbor,

As of 8:00 p.m., there is a light snow falling, but SRR is passable (but slippery) for westbound traffic. Eastbound traffic is more problematic, mostly because the road is uphill part of the way. Nevertheless, many 2WD cars have gone both directions along the road throughout the day. My advice is to stay off the road if at all possible during the dark hours. By morning, the road condition will have improved, provided we don’t get much more rain tonight. Incidentally, we have received 0.65 in of rain (or melted snow) in the past 24 hours.

The SRRA Board met for an hour with Bob Sherwin this evening. Mr. Sherwin reported that he has now discussed our situation with a senior technical and engineering advisor who is an expert on the RoadPacker process. Although the details of a solution are still being worked out, the recommended approach now is to mix an aggregate material (e.g., basecourse, gravel, etc.) with the top several inches of the slurry that has formed on the road. The aggregate will provide both strength and traction to the road surface, analogous to the way that gravel and sand provide strength in concrete. With luck this treatment may turn out to be a permanent solution.

Tomorrow morning at about 7:00 a.m., a road crew will begin implementing this procedure, which will take most of the day to complete (if all goes according to schedule). Volunteers will be stationed through the morning hours at Rte. 285 and the RR tracks to advise drivers of the road condition.

By late this afternoon, Avenida de las Compadres had deteriorated significantly and was in worse condition than Spur Ranch Road. We’ll check that road out in the morning to see if it has dried out enough to sustain traffic, but until you hear otherwise it is best avoided.

I’m really sorry for all the inconvenience this entire experience has caused our community. There have been a number of missteps and proposed solutions that haven’t worked, and none of us could be blamed for losing patience.  On the positive side, however, the distributor seems determined to see this experiment through to a successful conclusion, and for that, at least, we should all be appreciative.

Regards,

Jim

Spur Ranch Road - Noon Update 04_03_2012

Dear Neighbor,

Spur Ranch Road is still quite slippery, with volunteers stationed at the RR tracks encouraging eastbound drivers to use Avenida de las Compadres. Reports are that Compadres is driveable, with caution. Westbound traffic coming from Rte 285 along SRR is having an easier time and is being cautioned but not turned away.

A road grader arrived earlier this morning to clear away the slush on the road surface, but shortly after arriving blew its engine and had to be hauled away. A replacement grader is on its way, but will not arrive until about 2:30pm.  With any luck, none of which we’ve had so far today, the road should be driveable by the end of the work day.

A temporary measure being considered is to mix gravel/basecourse in with the slushy road surface to improve traction. This is a slightly different approach from that done a month ago, in which basecourse was distributed over the dry road. Clearly, this original approach did not work for very long because traffic just pulverized the basecourse, which then blew away.

I’ll keep everybody posted, as more information becomes available. As mentioned previously, the SRRA Board is meeting tonight at 7pm.

Jim

Spur Ranch Road Update -9:45am 04_03_2012

Dear Neighbor,

Spur Ranch Road continued to deteriorate during the night and as of 9:45am is extremely slippery. Some traffic is moving slowly, but drivers are sliding and having difficulty. As of now, nobody has reported being hopelessly stuck off the side of the road, but there have been some close calls.

 

The surface deterioration now seems to be roughly an inch. The loss of traction occurs because the clay-rich surface material clogs tire treads, causing tires to lose nearly all their traction. Obviously the assurance we received from the RoadPacker group that the surface would cure after a period of above-freezing temperatures has not been realized.

 

I have been in contact with Bob Sherwin this morning. The grader has arrived moments ago and will start clearing the slush, so the road should be passable within an hour or so. I’ll send an update later this morning.

 

The SRRA directors are meeting this evening to discuss a course of action. Obviously, we have to find both an immediate solution, as well as a long-term solution for this problem before the monsoon season arrives.

Jim

Re: Spur Ranch Road Update - 10:00pm 04-02-2012

To All:  8:00 AM Tuesday!

Do Not drive on Spur Ranch Road if at all possible, it is all but impassable.  I barely

 made it in my 3/4 ton Pickup at 5 MPH in 4 wheel low.  The road is dangerous in the present condition.  Tire tracks of people before me reveal several were spinning out.  When are we going to get results instead of excuses  from the Contractor?????

From: Jim Garland <4cx250b@muohio.edu>
To: srra1.chollacactus@blogger.com
Sent: Monday, April 2, 2012 9:57 PM
Subject: Spur Ranch Road Update - 10:00pm 04-02-2012

Dear Neighbor,

Bob Sherwin evaluated the road condition tonight and reported back to me that the road surface is mostly hard, except for the very top layer (about 1/8 in thick)  of the westernmost segment (between the RR tracks and Silver Saddle). His evidence is that the road is not showing tire tracks, as it did a month ago after it rained. 

 

Tomorrow morning, he is having a grader scoop up loose gravel from the ditches along this segment of road in order to redistribute it on the surface to ensure traction. The grader will probably arrive in the 8-9 am period, so please be very careful if you drive the road before then. Thanks.

Regards,

Jim

Spur Ranch Road Update - 10:00pm 04-02-2012

Dear Neighbor,

Bob Sherwin evaluated the road condition tonight and reported back to me that the road surface is mostly hard, except for the very top layer (about 1/8 in thick)  of the westernmost segment (between the RR tracks and Silver Saddle). His evidence is that the road is not showing tire tracks, as it did a month ago after it rained. 

 

Tomorrow morning, he is having a grader scoop up loose gravel from the ditches along this segment of road in order to redistribute it on the surface to ensure traction. The grader will probably arrive in the 8-9 am period, so please be very careful if you drive the road before then. Thanks.

Regards,

Jim

Spur Ranch Road Update - 8 p.m. 04/02/2012

Dear Neighbors,

I just checked our road’s condition, to see how the surface has held up with this afternoon’s and evening’s snow. Unfortunately, the news is not good. Although the section of the road between Rt 285 and Silver Saddle is generally in reasonable shape (however, with a few slippery spots), the segment west of Silver Saddle is still very slippery. The gravel installed last month has been ground down by traffic and does not appear to be stabilizing the surface.

 

Fortunately, that part of the road is level and straight, but drivers must nevertheless go very slowly and exercise great caution. I have notified Bob Sherwin of my finding and will let you know when I hear back from him. Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

Jim