Is there hope for road?

Editor,

There’s a new road sign on Bear Valley Road.

It’s has illuminated yellow lights about six feet square telling us it’s severely rough ahead. That is something those of us who use the road have known for a long time.

This is the third of a series of sign designs that the road department began putting up some years ago. The first sign was about two feet square and was placed on the ground leaning against a sawhorse; after about a year or so that one was replaced with a more permanent sign the same size but elevated on a steel post.

This was some kind of hint that we were not going to see any improvements in the near future. And now this new, much more elaborate sign.

Bear Valley Road extends from Highway 49 west to where it ends in Hornitos. The first three miles from 49 is in good condition with no potholes or patches of potholes.

The first half of that three miles out of Bear Valley is an uphill grade to the crest of the ridge overlooking the Central Valley. The second half of that distance is downhill and was rerouted with a new section built to Hunters Valley Road in 1980. Also no potholes or patches.

Six people have died on the first six miles west on Bear Valley Road from Highway 49 since 1978. Three by driving off the road and down the embankment and three caused by brake failure, missing a curve and hitting some solid object off the road .

Only two of the fatalities were on the part warned by the signs. There are no guardrails anywhere on the road. Guardrails would have probably prevented two, and maybe a third, fatality.

Is there any idea that the road will be repaved any time in the near future? Very doubtful but there is hope. The new sign is temporary; it’s on a trailer.

Emory Kyle
Bear Valley