State of Roads & Bridges - PMRP & Miller Fork

[RRGCC]

We estimate PMRP & Miller Fork road repairs will cost $10,000-$15,000. We will post detailed cost estimates in the coming days. Thankfully most years do not include such extensive flash flooding. Please consider helping with emergency repair at http://rrgcc.org/donate

As of today, conditions on the ground are:

- Bald Rock Road is passable in most all locations by passenger vehicles

- Access to Flat Holler parking lot is not available at this time - please park elsewhere.

- Flat Holler parking lot should be accessible by this next weekend provided weather cooperates. Next week at the latest if it does not.

- Hell Creek Road is in disrepair, and traveling beyond the intersection of Shumaker Ridge Road and Hell Creek by vehicle is NOT advised until further notice – road repairs are contingent on weather.

- We ask that you DO NOT travel back to Sore Heel in anything less than a 4×4 vehicle and DO NOT park along Sore Heel road during this time.

- Parking in front of oil wells, next to oil well access roads, in the road, or anywhere where you might close the travel corridor more than 12’ is strictly prohibited. The oil company MUST have access to repair roads and maintain their equipment. Violators WILL BE TOWED.

- Please use good judgment when parking during this time – do not impede local or company traffic in any way.

- If you cannot find a place to park responsibly, please consider a different crag until we can repair this Spring’s damage.

- All climbing is OPEN and always will be!

We do the best we can to balance mortgage payments and land maintenance, with a limited budget and without charging for access. Repairs will cost more than we had allocated to land maintenance in 2015. Please help us get our roads and bridges back to the condition they were in prior to the floods, and until we do, be ready for some creek crossings when visiting Miller Fork!

[RRGCC]

More pictures and information from Lee Co. website:

http://www.heartofthekentuckyriver.com/ ... -fork-road

[clif]

strategically, i'm not sure what the thinking has been nor what the itemized breakdown of annual road maintenance expenses is, but i am curious. the link seems to imply a broader consensus?

anyway, interesting link and really good to see the emphasis on the river, Mill Creek prohibition on swimming is crazy to me, but what to do...?

Kentucky River Watershed

The heaviest concentration of mountaintop removal mining sites in Kentucky is found in the region that encompasses the headwaters of the Kentucky River. The extent of mountaintop removal occurring in this region of Kentucky is staggering. The larger cities in the Kentucky River watershed downstream from eastern Kentucky mining include Lexington, Frankfort, Versailles, Harrodsburg, Richmond, Nicholasville, Jackson, Hazard, Irvine and Beattyville. These cities are among the 68 municipalities that draw water from the Kentucky River.

Those of us who grew up on the farm learned at an early age to exercise caution in selecting our drinking water--to avoid "drinking downstream from the herd." Today much of the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky is drinking downstream from some of the most irresponsible environmental practices in the history of the state. There has been much controversy in recent years about the quantity of water available in the Bluegrass region (esp. Lexington), when perhaps the more immediate concern should be the quality of water.

[michaelarmand]

Any news on the condition of the road getting to miller fork?

[Rx2Climb]

I was there on Saturday. The road is in rough shape, but passable if you have 4 wheel drive. Our subaru made it down. Also we put the monastery bridge and main bridge back up. Good work RRGCC

[J-Ru]

The road is in rough shape, but passable if you have 4 wheel drive. Our subaru made it down.

Question: Is the issue clearance or FWD? I have AWD, but not quite the clearance of a Subaru.

[monty4355]

Clearance for sure. Not really that muddy.

[DriskellHR]

Road work is moving slow, soil is wet and demand for equipment is high. haul some creek rock, fill in some holes. Pick a spot and with A 5 gallon bucket, gravel shovel and 30 min you can make a huge difference and we would really appreciate the help.

Also clearing debris and rocks from drainages, and draining standing water in roadways goes a long way to prevent further damage.

Might be a couple weeks before we can get repairs underway.

Driskell

[michaelarmand]

I went down a few weeks ago and the road was in bad shape - needed 4 wheel drive with good clearance. Anyone know of any more recent status? I only have a car this weekend....

[J-Ru]

The road to Miller Fork is passable in a car. 4 wheel drive not required, but would be smart.