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Paradise declares emergency, authorizes immediate repairs to Billy Road culvert
Summary
Council declared an emergency to repair two failed 18‑inch culverts beneath Billy Road at Olympia Way and authorized immediate work to replace and upsize the culverts to 24 inches to prevent roadway collapse and restore access.
The Paradise Town Council declared an emergency Feb. 11 and authorized staff to proceed immediately with repairs to an undersized and failing culvert system under Billy Road at Olympia Way, after Public Works staff found large voids under the roadway and closed the street.
Public Works staff inspected the site following heavy storms and determined two 18‑inch culverts were failing and were creating erosion and voids that could allow a heavy vehicle to cause a roadway collapse. Town staff recommended replacing the culverts and upsizing them to 24 inches as recommended in the town’s 2022 storm‑drain master plan.
Mark Maddox told council the emergency declaration shortens procurement and design timelines so work can begin immediately rather than waiting six to 12 months for the competitive process. He said a local contractor that has done emergency repairs for the town quoted about $70,000 to remove and replace the immediate culverts; the broader drainage upsizing uphill would involve additional work and potential land‑acquisition requirements and is not part of the emergency repair.
"We confirmed that there are large voids underneath the road to where if a garbage truck, fire engine, heavy vehicle, the roadway could collapse," Maddox said. Council approved the emergency declaration and immediate repairs and staff expected to begin work as soon as the following day, with a target to restore the roadway within a week or two, depending on weather and permitting.
