Transportation head responds to berm complaints

The Crier last week published a letter complaining about the asphalt berms and curbs that edge the newly repaved roads through town, primarily Circle Drive. Although residents are generally pleased to be driving over fresh road surfaces, the new curbs have been not well received.

Before, during and after the county road repaving.
PHOTOS BY BRYAN FORWARD

The issues outlined in the letter have been echoed in neighbor-to-neighbor conversations and board meetings this month, and fall into a number of categories: the reduction of shoulder room for pedestrians; the loss of parking space; the pointed tops of some berms that seem vulnerable to breaking; the new drainage patterns that will only be discovered after the next big rain; the loss of shoulder parking during snow and the possibility of plows damaging the new curbs; and also the investment by the county of an addition to the project for which locals did not ask.

Riverside County Director of Transportation Mark Lancaster responded to these concerns. He highlighted that the new edging is a work in progress and we can expect changes in the coming weeks.

“(T)his project has not been completed yet and I am a bit surprised that the asphalt berms have gotten so much attention. Repaving the roads was the focus of the project and I hope there is a noticeable improvement in the smoothness and rideability. The berms were constructed for drainage purposes and placing earthen backfill, known as shoulder backing, still needs to be completed.

“Yes, the berms are taller than before the paving work began, but they are to minimize flooding to properties adjacent to the roadway. It was never intended to impede pedestrian travel and once the construction is nearing completion, if adjustments need to be made to the shoulder backing areas to provide for pedestrians, that will be done.

“During the snow season, Riverside County Ordinance 413 prohibits parking along the shoulders so snowplows can operate. If the berms are damaged by snowplows or errant vehicles, County Road Maintenance crews will repair as they have always done.”

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