County public works says it's ready for storm

With the rainstorm forecast to continue this week, the County of San Luis Obispo Public Works Department is building on preparations that began last summer.

“We’ve been getting ready for storms since the summer – that’s when we start our countywide culvert inspections and cleaning,” said Transportation Division Manager Joshua Roberts. “It’s also when we sent sand to the community service districts. Our goal every year is to be ‘winter ready’ by October.”

The County does not provide sandbags; however, sand is available to the public at the follow locations:

https://www.prepareslo.org/en/resourcesGeneral/Sand-Distribution-Locations-01.2023.pdf

There are currently no county-maintained road closures. To keep up on the latest information, residents can go to:

https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Services/Maps/Road-Closures-and-Delays.aspx

“At present we are cleaning up from the last storm, and are responding to calls for fallen trees, mud, debris, and flooding from over New Year’s weekend,” Roberts said.

Over New Year’s Day weekend, from Friday through Monday, Public Works received 25 calls from the CHP for a variety of road hazards – fallen trees, rock/mud slides, and flooding. Public Works road crews worked through the night New Year’s Eve and into the following afternoon clearing roadways.

For emergencies and road hazards, the public should call 911. The CHP will call Public Works into the situation as appropriate. For routine roads maintenance requests, residents can call Public Works at (805) 781-5252 or submit a request for assistance online at:

https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Public-Works/Contact-Us.aspx

“We have our roads staff standby in anticipation of the coming storm, and we’ve put out signage to mark potential problem areas,” Roberts said. “We’re continuing to inspect and clear culverts where debris might have been washed in from previous rains.”

Public Works Deputy Director Cindy Treichler added, “Our number one priority is to keep the public and road crews safe, so we do like to remind motorists to adjust their driving to stay safe on the road and to please watch out for road crews working throughout the day and night.”

County road to get surface treatment in Templeton, could affect Highway 46

The San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department will begin a surface treatment project on various county roads, including roads in Templeton off of Highway 46.

The work locations are in the Templeton area, see the attached vicinity map for details. This work is a part of the county’s annual pavement management program and required to maintain the pavement condition to provide a smooth, safe road and to avoid costly repairs in the future.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 25, nighttime work will be conducted on Vineyard Drive, east of Highway 46, on Main Street, and on Templeton Road. Regular daytime work will continue on Oct. 6 for the remaining work. The project is expected to be completed by December 2022, the schedule is subject to change depending on weather or other factors.

For the safety of the public and the workers, traffic will be subject to detours or reduced to one-way controls with flaggers and pilot cars as required for each phase of the work. Hours of the lane closures for nighttime work will be Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., and daytime work will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Delays are expected to be up to 10 minutes during major operations. Motorists are advised to adjust their travel plans in consideration of the delays. Please see map for road locations.

The project is funded by SB-1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc., has been awarded a contract for $1,350,073.54 to perform this work.

Map: Old Creek Road closed to Cayucos July 11-14

County workers will close a 5.3-mile stretch of Old Creek Road leading to Cayucos from July 11-14.

Work will be done to resurface the roadway by the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department between Highway 46 to Cottontail Lane.

For the safety of the public and workers, the road will be closed to traffic starting July 11 through July 14, including overnight. Access will be provided to local residents and emergency services. Motorists are advised to adjust their travel plans in consideration of the closure.