At the March 13 Mountain Emergency Service Committee meeting, Caltrans Maintenance Supervisor Jody Mueller alerted the group to the work being done on Highway 74, east of the Cranston Ranger Station. The eastbound lane has formed a noticeable bump since last summer’s repaving.

A recent survey of the nearby terrain found an alarming movement in the soil. Consequently, a Caltrans geologist has been overseeing the work, which will include the construction of a French drain to divert water from the area.

These repairs began Friday and will continue this week between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Reversible, one-way traffic control will be in effect during the work hours.

The $750,000 emergency project is needed to stabilize the slope that was undermined during the recent rain event. The
project includes excavation, structure back-fill, debris removal, removing and replacing existing pavement, slope stabilization and installation of a perforated under-drain, according to a Caltrans release.

Caltrans work also includes repairing a depression on Highway 243 near Poppet Flats, she said.

Much of the meeting was devoted to revising MEMSCOMM’s resource guide. Kathleen Henderson, emergency services coordinator for the mountain, indicated she would have a new draft available for attendees at the next meeting in May.

The guide identifies all the organizations, with current phone numbers, and individuals who may need to be contacted for any emergency incident that occurs on the Hill.

In response to a question from Poppet Flats resident John Wilson, Vicki Jakubac, office assistant for Pine Cove Water District, discussed the PCWD’S recent decision to declare a water emergency effective April 1. She recommended finding many water conservation ideas on the District’s blog site, www.pcwd.org/blog/.

Future training opportunities from Red Cross, volunteer medical corps and CERT, also were mentioned.