This is a reply to Howard Ziehm’s letter “Timing Is Everything” in your edition of Nov. 11. I and all Las Flores Canyon residents are sympathetic to Mr. Ziehm’s concerns in his letter last week regarding the daily closure of Las Flores Canyon Road. However, he is so badly informed that practically everything he said was inaccurate. I felt the record needed to be set straight for all of us who live “up here” so I’ll take his points in order.
The road is not closed from 8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. It is closed from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and numerous signs, illuminated and otherwise, up and down the canyon and on PCH clearly state these times.
The road will be open on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. This information was given to the residents by Dean Lehman at the well-attended community meeting at Camp 8 Firestation on Oct. 6. Work clearing the slide material was pushed back from August to November because the slide was still moving and it was unsafe for any grading equipment to be on it.
No work is taking place on Hume Road. I believe the current plan is for the one-lane segments on Las Flores to be repaired before any attempt is made to re-open Hume.
Endless discussion took place over the possible use of Gorge Road as a detour around the earth removal, including Mr. Ziehm’s belated suggestion of shuttling convoys through one way at a time. The reasons this is not being done are twofold: Gorge Road is a private road (this information is printed on the street signs) and the County cannot accept liability for its use by the public. Secondly, as Mr. Lehman pointed out, if the slide material which is being removed were to give way, it would not only take out Las Flores Canyon Road but probably end up on Gorge Road, closing it as well. Don’t forget we are talking about 24,000 cubic yards of earth! So Gorge Road is no safer than Las Flores whilst work is gomg on.
If Mr. Ziehm and his neighbors were unable to attend the community informational meeting there are many ways he could have received accurate responses to his concerns. Calling County offices on a public holiday (Veteran’s Day) is not one of them.
Graeme Clifford