Letter Writer Warns of Possible Black Ice on County Road

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Water running on the Briceland Thorn Road.

Water running on the Briceland Thorn Road.

Hello Redheaded Blackbelt readers,

I have a public safety issue I would like to bring to your attention. There is a patch of black ice that is re-occurring annually in the same spot about 400 yards uphill from Hostadts Soil if you are headed towards Shelter Cove from Redway and about a quarter mile down hill from the Ettersburg Junction if you are headed east towards Redway.

I and another vehicle crashed here two years ago, I made formal complaints about poor drainage on that section of road causing this serious patch of black ice to Humboldt County Roads Department and CHP and nothing was done. Yesterday there were 4 or 5 cars that crashed in the same spot according to Mark from Browns Towing, and an Employee at the Shelter Cove General Store.

My wife lost control of her vehicle and almost crashed into a car that was in the ditch there yesterday morning. Upon hearing the news I immediately called 911 in hopes CHP would treat the situation as a legitimate road hazard. They referred me to the Garberville County Roads supervisor by the first name Denton. He told me he had put in 36 hours of overtime in the last 2 weeks and he is understaffed and underfunded to do anything but put some sand on it.

I then called Estelle Fennell and spoke to her, she assured me she was equally concerned and would see to it that something was done.

I inspected the water runoff situation and at a glance it appears that the water is coming from the driveway on the east bound side of the road above the black ice patch, but upon further inspection the metal culvert just uphill of that driveway appears to have failed, as water is seeping from underground through the pavement.

I have called and emailed Humboldt County Roads Chief Steve Finch, and spoken with Garberville CHP Seargent Willock who told me Steve Finch was in charge of making the call to fix the road.

Sergeant Willock admitted there was a CHP protocol to investigating such road hazards and catalyzing a solution when it was a public safety issue but he had not yet been trained how to do that.

I went there today and dug out a 75 to 100 foot ditch in hopes of controlling sheeting rain runoff, but after working there for 45 mins and watching the water it’s clear that there is water not just seeping from underground up through the pavement, it is bubbling out of a 12″ pothole in the road.

Tomorrow morning (February 21’st) temperatures are forecasted to reach 29 degrees in Redway, so we can assume there will be more car crashes.

I hope you can use this information to inform the public that they need to take it easy on that road. Unfortunately it is now up to the bureaucracy of the county to fix the situation. I just hope they fix it before someone dies or gets seriously injured. Black IceThere is no proper signage so someone spray-painted the road in hopes that would help.

I hope this message gets out and more accidents can be avoided. Anyone else who wishes to voice their concerns should call Humboldt County Roads Chief Steve Finch at (707) 445-7421 or email him at [email protected]

You can also call the Garberville CHP Substation and ask to report a public safety concern to Sergeant Willock at (707)923-2155

The squeaky wheel gets the oil so they say.

Thank you for sharing my concern,
Sincerely, Hunter Blackwell
Shelter Cove, CA

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36 Comments
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I like stars
Guest
I like stars
5 years ago

Good job with the paint. It could save a life.

Joe
Guest
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

That’s what I was going to say! Way cool of someone to take the time to paint that on the road. I’d like to shake that man’s/woman’s hand. It really stands out, too! VERY COOL!!!

Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

🕯I thought so to. And thank you Kym for the laugh,because that’s what it would take for some of these people to realize the Hazards that happen in this type of weather. To bad NorCal doesn’t go around doing that in glow in the dark paint?

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago

the roads in Humboldt County especially the back mountain roads are horrid & if you don’t have 4X4 or AWD, it’s even worse… good idea for more & more people to call as much as possible to report pot holes & bad road maintenance b/c it’s been proven maintained roads prevent accidents & save lives & wear/tear on vehicles.

CnD
Guest
CnD
5 years ago

Hunter,
Kudos to you for exhausting nearly all formal channels for getting this problem addressed, and then going even further, by taking matters into your own hands by digging a ditch in an effort to divert the water!

Joe
Guest
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  CnD

👍👍👍

Thanks
Guest
Thanks
5 years ago

Thank you so much for the post Kym, I’m heading out that way in the morning good to be informed🙂👍🏻

B Bach
Guest
B Bach
5 years ago

OMG! The efforts that you put forth!! I know that you must be so incredibly frustrated with the county officials you have encountered! Please know that your efforts are very much appreciated by all of us that have friends, family who travel that way daily – weekly – monthly! You may have saved lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! What an incredible lesson you’ve taught me: the answer to ” why doesn’t someone…..!” That someone is each one of ALL of us! We need a bunch of squeaky wheels!

Joe
Guest
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  B Bach

👍👍👍

Thanks
Guest
Thanks
5 years ago

another example of how we just end up taking things into our own hands. Thank you so much for your diligence

Honestly
Guest
Honestly
5 years ago

If the world could just have more people like this !!!!! SERIOUSLY

cove dweller
Guest
cove dweller
5 years ago

Thank you Hunter, you are awesome for taking it on a definite public service. we too have swerved a little on our way down.

Maryellen
Guest
Maryellen
5 years ago

Five cars had accidents there yesterday.
One was a friend that flipped upside down. She’s fine but her vehicle is totaled.
Another had his car slid into bank and the next car slid into his car and hit his vehicle.
I slid the on Monday as did another friend.
The water run off from the driveway is going onto the road.

Hunter Blackwell
Guest
Hunter Blackwell
5 years ago
Reply to  Maryellen

I am the one who wrote the letter to the editor. You are correct, water run off from the driveway is sheeting across the road when it’s raining, that’s why I dug the ditch, but the problem is much bigger. I have a video I’ve posted on YouTube. See for yourself. Copy and past this link:
https://youtu.be/bJ7trJDLuGk I am so glad your friend didn’t get hurt. Please have your friend reach out to the aforementioned county officials and let them know their negligence will indeffinelty lead to a liability lawsuit of this is not fixed immediately. No more complaicency folks. I believe in a simple mantra of “Live and let live” …. unless you are infringing on other people’s liberty, freedom, sanctity or safety. The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

guest
Guest
guest
5 years ago

Someone on my road painted a warning about a bad bit of rough road. Deciding to fix the problem, the county came and painted over the warning. However 3 years later, they did come back to finally patch it.

festus haggins
Guest
festus haggins
5 years ago

I know that when I have to get a easement onto a county road that it requires that I culvert, grade, asphalt etc. to keep this from happening. I doubt this is a county works problem.

Hunter Blackwell
Guest
Hunter Blackwell
5 years ago
Reply to  festus haggins

The culvert has nothing to do with private property, the culvert diverts water running down Briceland road from in inboard ditch under the pavement and into a ravine. The driveway is just appears at a glance to be the culprit. There is a above ground heavy flow of water running through that ditch. Watch the video.

WTF FOR FOUR YEARS THAT ICE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD
Guest
WTF FOR FOUR YEARS THAT ICE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD
5 years ago

The county is not doing maintenance this has been the same at that spot for the last 4 years. Where is all our road money? They repave roads up north and do nothing down here. Briceland/Shelter cove rd needs to be repaired from Redway to the cove. They don’t use feet on their snow plows and just completely ripped up the road going up the hill from Whitethorn. There are plugged culverts right up the hill from Whitethorn. We cleared the county ditch and culverts in front of our property, the county cleared it 4 years ago and has not touched it since.

GetCHAfactsRIGHT
Guest
GetCHAfactsRIGHT
5 years ago

What roads up north have they paved?

Wegee
Guest
Wegee
5 years ago

Does anyone know how many miles of paved roadway Humboldt county has? (not including State Highways)

Big Bang
Guest
5 years ago

There is no such thing as “black” ice. Never has been. It is just ice. Ice, just regular ole’ ice forms at what temperature?
If it is cold enough to form ice, slow the fuck down, and drive like there may be ice on the roadway. A little temp gauge (formally called a thermometer} like on an aquarium, stuck to the inside corner of your windshield works like a champ! Or just ASSUME that on cold days you should not fly into a corner that may be icy? Mmmmkay? Or maybe there should be a sign before every corner that says “there could be a boulder/deer/upside down logging truck/etc. on the next blind bend, so slow the fuck down in case there is” or something like that…

Hunter Blackwell
Guest
Hunter Blackwell
5 years ago
Reply to  Big Bang

Hahaha nailed it

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Big Bang

Except ice can remain on the parts of the road in the shade while the rest is fine. Black ice can be a surprise as anyone who has innocently stepped on it just outside their door can tell you. The difference between going slow or fast can be just how fast you are going when you slide off in either case.

Charlie
Guest
Charlie
5 years ago
Reply to  Big Bang

I can remember going down that hill in first gear once and having the rear wheels break loose and start sliding. It was a slow motion nightmare that fortunately ended when the rear wheels hit pavement and the truck straightened out suddenly. It definitely scared the hell out of me, I thought my dog and I were headed over the edge.

That said, slow is definitely safer for all concerned.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Nice.

GUEST
Guest
GUEST
5 years ago

Snow looks white because of air trapped between crystals. The danger of driving on a road covered with black ice is that the roadway can appear to be merely wet. Drivers may not recognize the slippery conditions until it is too late. Crashes also occur when a roadway freezes over quickly because of freezing rain.

Cove Dweller
Guest
Cove Dweller
5 years ago

Hunter, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Your time and effort is very much appreciated. Drivers should slow down, drive for the winter conditions, not the speed limit. Stay on your own side of the road and a stop sign means STOP! It’s not a suggestion but the law. Thank you Hunter for looking out for us.

For Sure
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Cove Dweller

We all need to take more initiative…nobody will be rescuing us if we have ” The Big One” . We will be last on the list, so try to get smarter and try to have a few neighborhood meetings to get at least a rough idea of an emergency plan. Each ‘hood needs a game plan for cooperative survival . Like a water brigade, food…a gathering/ information spot. For example, Redway School is a good meeting place for all people in & near Redway. The school kitchen can be used to pool food & make meals for ppl who may not be able due to health,etc. just an idea… And Thanks Hunter! Great job& great inspiration.

nobody
Guest
nobody
5 years ago

come on come on lets work together,every boy girl woman and a man.

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
5 years ago
Reply to  nobody

Before when things go wrong, as they sometimes will

Perspective
Guest
Perspective
5 years ago

There’s most likely a “tip line” for CDFW. Give them a jingle and let hem know a participant in the cannabis permitting process is having issues that need correcting. The participant being Humboldt County. Maybe a hefty fine will get them in gear.

Kylee
Guest
Kylee
5 years ago

My brother in-law works for the county I told him about this and he gave me the number to the “roads dispatch” he said to call it and tell them and something should happen or at least start to happen the number is 445-7421 I’m not in sohum anymore so I don’t know The exact details about the road but whoever wrote the article can call… Hope this helps

Robie Tenorio
Guest
Robie Tenorio
5 years ago

Hi Hunter,
Thank you for taking the initiative and putting so much time and energy into this problem.
The sign on the road is very helpful.
I hit the ice at that spot on Tuesday morning and it was very scary. As you suggested I called both the county and CHP.

Pass that J
Guest
Pass that J
5 years ago

“Black ice” sounds a bit racist. Especially coming from the predominately white folk who inhabit southern humboldt .

Wegee
Guest
Wegee
5 years ago

Anyone care to speculate on how many years (or months) it will be before Humboldt County declares insolvency?

Here sometimes
Guest
Here sometimes
5 years ago

#blackicematters