CURRENT CONDITION OF LOWER ROAD
For anyone who has not had the pleasure of driving up our road lately, it's a disaster. The lower half has exposed bedrock with multiple bumps and some dangerous protrusions. It's not advisable to attempt it without 4 wheel drive and plenty of undercarrage clearance.
The road will be widened by excavating the sides. This gives us the earth to use as fill and also reveals the whole road to better evaluate options for improvements beyond the urgent repairs. Such as the ragged concrete patch.
THAT DARN RAGGED CONCRETE PATCH
Fill and compact erosion surrounding the remaining patch, making driving smoother and safer while a lasting solution is investigated.
(see FUTURE PLANS)
​​
DEEP CREVICES IN DRIVE PATH
These erosion ruts begin where the pitch changes from out-slope to in-slope. The water has no escape and the hillside ditch is blocked by years of uncut bush. The amount of water keeps increasing and picks up speed on the steep incline. Volume + velocity = severe erosion.
These ruts are called 'false ditches' are a foot deep in places and force your car to the outer edge of the road. This is particularly difficult if another vehicle is coming down while you are going up.
This will be fixed as described in the exerpt from the
HW guide below.
Regular maintenance will prevent the ditch from getting blocked again.
BEDROCK PROTRUSIONS
THE HILLSIDE DITCH
"My construction crew can't get to the site."
"Gas company refuses to deliver to my home."
"On a rainy day, it took three tries to get up."
"God forbid someone needs an ambulance or a fire engine."
"I can't invite anyone to dinner any more."
Filling surrounding erosion with earth from excavated sides and berms, followed by multiple passes of smooth tired compacting to smooth out the surface.
Currently, three homes are located along the lower,
in-slope portion of the road. The in-slope pitch directs water into a hillside ditch. This protects the two down slope homes from run-off water but creates an obstacle to access one up slope home. Rip rap rocks will ensure owners can access their property and the water can continue to flow. Rock check dams with vetiver, placed above and below to stabilize and slow the water to mitigate erosion.
​
​
"*** this ***** road!"
STORM WATER RUN OFF DAMAGING COASTAL ROAD AND REEF
Ample drainage all the way uphill should reduce volume reaching the bottom. Rip rap can reduce velocity. Sediment trap can reduce harmful run off.
This is not up to standards for storm level run off, but a good start.
"It's a sin, what we're doing to the reef."
URGENT REPAIR IS PHASE 1
Every effort has been made to keep the cost down. Many of these actions are one-time repair costs and will not be needed for future maintenance.
​
​
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
A smoother, wider, and safer road, with proper up hill drainage to lessen downhill damage.
​
Even with all the drainage, we still have a rocky dirt road prone to erosion. Over time, ruts will begin to form again. Nothing short of paving can prevent that.
​
The effects will not be nearly as severe as we are experiencing now, and with consistent maintenance, the conditions should continue to improve.
​​​
​
CONCLUSION
Every deep rut, rocky bump, and concrete chunk is due to water erosion. These are all symptoms.
Poor watershed drainage is the disease.
​
Whether your concern is environmental. ease of driving, damage to vehicles, ability to construct a new home, or property values, good watershed maintenance addresses them all.
​
​
​