Proactive responses from neighbors and County prevent road collapse near Eagle Cove

Thanks to some observant neighbors and a prompt response from the San Juan County Public Works department, a road collapse along Eagle Cove Road was avoided last month, and the failing culvert at the heart of the problem was replaced.

“It’s always better to get at these things before they collapse,” Public Works Director Colin Huntemer told the County Council at a Jan. 25 meeting discussing the project. “I’m really thankful that members of the community brought this to our attention. We’re not everywhere all the time, so we rely on that additional help from the community when problems arise.”

Following the report of a slump along the road, an inspection by Public Works concluded that the area around the culvert would likely continue to deteriorate, putting the road at risk of imminent failure.

County Manager Mike Thomas determined that the situation qualified as an emergency, allowing the County to waive competitive bidding requirements and immediately start coordinating repairs. In doing so, the County avoided potential public safety issues and prevented the road and the hillside around it from washing down the adjacent ravine, damaging both public and private property.

M.E.M. Enterprises completed the culvert and road work four days after the problem was first reported, at a cost of roughly $120,000.

The repaired section of Eagle Cove Road remains gravel surfaced, with cones marking the road’s edge.

“We expect the road to be repaved this fall,” Huntemer says. “In the coming months, engineering staff will evaluate the need for a traffic barrier. The cones will stay in place until a decision is made about the need for a barrier. It is unlikely a decision will be made before the road is paved.”

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