The county road commission will try a second time to repair a section of Allegan Dam Road, which was washed out Friday, July 23, just hours after the same section was reopened following a June 23 washout.



The washout occurred in Valley Township, approximately 1 mile west of M-89.



According to road commission managing director Bill Nelson, the road commission used 1,400 cubic yards of earth to rebuild the road before Friday's "partial washout." New asphalt had not yet been laid as part of the repairs.



Nelson said the damage was smaller but still significant, as rain water removed a chunk of earth on the south side of the road.



"This time the damage was along the (south) side rather than across the whole road, but it wasn't in a safe condition so we closed the road again," Nelson said.



Nelson said the road commission was handling the entire project and that the county will pay the bill after it gets more accurate cost estimates.

He said the county is currently attempting to purchase an easement from local residents to install an overflow culvert directly above the existing culvert. Nelson said, that when installed, the overflow culvert would help to relieve the other culvert in case of excessive rains or when debris restricts drainage.



"We are still working on a permanent long-term solution," he said. "And we are currently trying to purchase the easement to put the overflow culvert under the road--it takes a little while."

www.allegannews.com/articles/2010/07/29/local_news/3.txt