Road Closures in the County of Minburn

Road Closures in the County of Minburn

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Road closures are a sure sign of Spring. As of May 1, there were 12 sections of roads throughout the County of Minburn due to flooding or poor conditions because of high levels of saturation.

Brent Williams, Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Minburn said the number of road closures is higher than normal, but not by much. “In recent years the County of Minburn has experienced flooding and road issues in Spring due to the increased moisture during summer and fall, high snowfall accumulation, and rapid Spring melting.”

Last week there were 12 sections of roads that were closed in the County of Minburn. This closure is at RR 134 and TWP 512 (Michelle Pinon/Photo)

He went on to say, “In terms of repair, some of these closures are a result of old culverts failing, so our crews will add new culverts, or fix damaged ones, and the road should be able to withstand similar water volumes in future years. However, some roads are annual closures due to sections being at low elevations or having a base that is unsuitable for high amounts of moisture. “For example, many older roads are made with black dirt bases, which become soft and unstable when wet. So in this latter circumstance, it’s a matter of waiting for water to recede, adding more gravel to holes and soft spots, and grading the road.”