San Juan County road staff plan night work, shoulder rebuilds and culvert replacements after heavy truck damage

San Juan County Road and Bridge staff described accelerated pavement failure and shoulder erosion on County Road 2 and other backcountry routes, and outlined a fall program of hauling material, replacing culverts and working night shifts to reduce disruption.

The county’s Road and Bridge staff member said crews did “quite a bit of work to our asphalt this summer and fix the potholes,” but added the asphalt is “falling apart rapidly” where heavy trucks have crossed the roadway. He said he plans to haul about 40 truckloads of fill to reestablish the right shoulder and expects to close the campground while that work occurs, probably in late October when the campground is already largely closed.

The staff member told the commissioners that it is not only local dump trucks but trucks tied to a federal cleanup that have accelerated wear: “It’s EPA’s trucks that are doing that. It’s just it’s really deteriorated in a year.” He said the county will document costs for that stretch because of the truck volume and uncertainty about which entity should pay for repairs.

On finances, staff said the county had not yet received the EPA payment but expected assistance: “Well and this is a whole other conversation ... but it looks like we’ll get — what did I say? — a hundred and eighty-five? Thousand,” the staff member said, adding the amount had not been received and was not final.

To reduce time and traffic impacts, road staff proposed night shifts and temporary full closures. “The road will be closed from, like, midnight to 6AM, and we’ll close it because then it’s 3 guys and 3 pieces of equipment. We’re getting way more done,” the staff member said. He said night work would also reduce the need for flagging and improve crew safety when traffic is heavy.

Staff also listed specific targets for this year: County Road 2, sections of Mineral Creek and Animas Forks Road; the Picayune culvert; replacement or regrading of the Level 1 waste rock road near Picayune Creek; and multiple culvert installs on Mineral Creek. He said many of the upper-elevation sections are “just pure rock” and will require material hauled in.

On temporary access alternatives, staff discussed opening gated side roads during construction to preserve emergency access: “We could open those gates, and … EMS needs to shut the road down. We could open those gates … at nighttime,” he said. The commissioners and staff discussed coordinating with private landowners and using gates only during construction windows.

The staff member recommended measuring truck volumes before and during work; he said a volunteer (Michael) had counted trucks to help establish a baseline and that the county expected reimbursement for loads that come through tied to the EPA project.

The presentation also included several practical notes staff said they will follow: use metal culverts rather than concrete in some backcountry locations, replace culverts that are failing, and coordinate closures and signage with the county road and bridge office and emergency responders.

Costs, timing and some permits remain to be finalized. Staff emphasized that many projects are contingent on crew availability and weather, with priorities shifting as emergencies or snow conditions change.