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Post by Admin on Feb 13, 2019 17:37:09 GMT -7
High South Snow and Road Condition Report - Feb. 13, 2019 High South roads are deteriorating quickly and in some cases are completely covered with drifting snow. Drifting snow has buried sections of Sagittarius Skyway with up to 18 inches making it very difficult for even heavy duty 4 wheel drive vehicles to navigate. Upper Hercules is down to one lane with drifts building steadily. Lower Hercules, past SpecTec is good but the recent warm mid-day temperatures have created many icy spots.
More snow, 1 to 3 inches, and wind is in the forecast for Thursday and Friday.
Dry Creek road was drifted over on Monday and at least one landowner had to be pulled out. Today the road is clear but down to one lane by Aquila.
The Forum fondly remembers the hard work accomplished by the 2017 Road Committee under the leadership of Jeff Riederer, Claudette Dirkers and Tim Brockett. In particular we remember how Jeff, Tim and other volunteers installed over 1,000 feet of snow fence on Mountain Sky property in the fall of 2017. Then in the spring of 2018 Jeff, Tim and other volunteers took down the snow fencing so Mountain Sky could plant their crops. That snow fencing and the snow barriers that Jeff built eliminated drifting problems on Dry Creek road. Currently the rolled up snow fencing and barriers are stored on Mountain Sky property near Dry Creek road.
In 2018 under the leadership of Walter Wunsch and Dennis Riley snow fencing was not erected along Dry Creek road on Mountain Sky property. Hopefully the new Road Committee under the leadership of Ken Hurley can erect temporary snow fencing again this fall.
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Post by Admin on Feb 14, 2019 17:13:47 GMT -7
High South Roads Cleared by a Grader and Front End Loader Chad Standish and crew tried to plow High South last night. The drifts were so bad they got stuck and came back today, February 14th, 2019, with a grader and large front end loader. After several intensive hours of work they were able to cut through the drifts and widen the main roads, Upper Hercules and Sagittarius Skyway, in High South.
We have received a report from a landowner that Sagittarius Place off of upper Hercules, still needs work. That road needs widening and plowing.
We also heard that Frances Owen's car is stuck in her driveway about halfway to her house. If someone could check on her and see if she needs assistance that would be wonderful.
Snowplows are limited in the height and distance they can throw fresh snow. Faster speeds allow the snow to be tossed higher and further away from the road but also increase the danger of the vehicle flying off the road. Because our roads are poorly maintained and dangerous, snow plow speeds must remain slow in High South. Most of the roads lack snow plow posts, green 5 foot posts placed at the edge of the road with white reflectors, and thus it is impossible to tell exactly where the edge of the road is. Sagittarius Skyway is a bench road; part of it is cut from the side of a steep hill. The road's camber leans crazily in one direction and then twists to the opposite side before turning back again. Driving on it, is akin to riding a roller coaster. At one point there is a drop off, called Dead Man's Drop, that sharply descends almost 300 feet. The road needs to be properly graded with a predictable and appropriate camber so it is easier to plow and safer for all drivers. Guard rails along Dead Man's Drop would be a good idea. It is the deepest and most unprotected drop in all of Glastonbury.
The poorly marked and snow covered roads in High South had 18 inch to 36 inch snow piles along each side. With each storm those piles crept ever closer to the center of the road and narrowed the driving and plowing width. The grader was able to move many of the snow piles back from the road edge. The front end loader picked up more of the piles and deposited them on the low side of the road were they can melt in April and May. Snow frequently stays in High South until May and snow has fallen here every month of the year.
The freshly cut banks of recent drifts in High South extend almost 6 feet above the road in the most difficult spots. Each one represents a cut away view of this winter's various snow storms. Once snow falls in November in High South it generally remains here until April and May. The 1,500 foot difference in elevation from Low South creates a much wetter and longer lasting winter environment.
Currently it is 30 degrees and snowing heavily. Two to four inches of fresh snow are expected. On Friday the winds will pick up and the drifts will again begin a steady march across our roads.
Many thanks to Chad Standish and crew for a job well done. Thanks also to Ken Hurley, Chairman of the South Glastonbury Road Committee for responding quickly and appropriately to the severe and dangerous drifting in High South.
It was not so long ago when several members of the GLA Board were discussing not providing plowing services to High South. They wanted our assessments but were refusing to provide services promised in our Covenants. Many Board Members and some landowners wanted to treat High South landowners unequally and use their assessment monies to serve members in Low South and maintain private, CUT owned roads. The 2017 Road Committee drafted a new Road Policy that promises road maintenance and plowing for all Glastonbury landowners and forbids using landowner funds to maintain private or county roads. The Forum hopes that the 2019 Road Committee will abide by the draft Road Policy and treat all landowners equally. If not enough money is available then the past due assessments which now total over $200,000.00 must be collected more vigorously.
Drive safely. Winter is far from over.
Happy Valentines Day to everyone!
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