Date: August 12, 2004

CONTACT: Jamie Thompson, Public Affairs Officer, (775) 623-1500

ROAD IMPROVEMENTS MAY SLOW DRIVE TO PINE FOREST RANGE

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Winnemucca Field Office will be maintaining and upgrading roads south of Denio from now until the end of the year or as long as weather permits, announced Jerry Carpenter, BLM Supervisory Civil Engineer. "The road work is aimed at improving public safety and resource protection," explains Ms. Carpenter. "The work will take place on Sand Basin Road (#2083) between Humboldt County's Knott Creek Road and the turnoff for Knott Creek Reservoir, and on up the Alta Creek Road (#2014) to Knott Creek Reservoir, Onion Reservoir and Blue Lakes." [See Map]

The work will be performed only during the week, usually from Mondays through Thursdays but occasionally on Fridays. Barring unforeseen problems, the roads will be left in an open condition for weekend use by the public. "During construction the public is advised against pulling trailers or driving 2-wheel-drive vehicles on these roads because the road surfaces are going to be rough in places," adds Ms. Carpenter. Before beginning a trip to the Pine Forest Range, the public can contact Jerry Carpenter at 775-623-1500 to check on the current condition of these roads.

On the Sand Basin Road, the work will include removing roadside boulders to improve sight distance, creating turnouts to allow safer passing, blading, shaping, watering, installing culverts and filter fabric, constructing rolling dips and lead-off ditches to improve roadway drainage, and reinstalling a cattleguard. Alta Creek road work will involve busting boulders from the roadway.

Next spring the road surfaces will be bladed and shaped and a new surface of crushed aggregate will be placed. This will complete road work in the area, at least for the next several years.

- BLM -