Thunderstorms in the Mojave Desert on July 24 resulted in flooding in the communities of Danby and Essex which caused substantial damage to National Trails Highway. Due to flash floods, timber bridges in the Essex/Danby area sustained erosion damage and debris build-up in their channels. In addition, five timber bridges sustained major damage to their structural elements. As a result, an additional reach of National Trials Highway, between Essex Road and Cadiz Road is closed pending roadway repairs and bridge evaluations.
According to Kevin Blakeslee, the county’s director of public works, this has “created an emergency pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050, requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, property, and essential public services and will not permit a delay resulting from a formal competitive solicitation of bids to repair the damage.”
In compliance with Blakeslee’s request, the board of supervisors voted to expedite repairs by appropriating $2.5 million, without requiring a formal bid process, to undertake debris removal and erosion repair, asphalt roadway repairs and bridge repairs.