April 2023 local-news archive: spring thaw left San Miguel County crews preparing to repair and treat gravel roads after winter wear. This article preserves the plans reported at that time by Ashley Bunton, Associate Editor of the Telluride Daily Planet. The May-to-June timing below was the county's 2023 expectation, dependent on weather and roads drying out.
Original photograph: Telluride Daily Planet file photo.
The original coverage attributed the maintenance update to Road & Bridge Director Ryan Righetti. It described muddy road surfaces during thaw and a hoped-for May start, with annual treatments generally completed between May and June if conditions allowed. Subsequent watering could help maintain the treated gravel surface.
For the west end of the county, from the Norwood area toward the Utah state line, the planned dust-control treatment was RoadSaver, supplied by Desert Mountain Corporation. The original account described a magnesium-chloride mixture containing about 75% water, intended to retain moisture and reduce dust.
From Specie Mesa through Telluride, the planned treatment was DMC Blend, also supplied by Desert Mountain Corporation. The report described lignosulfonates, a byproduct of tree pulping, as helping bind gravel and strengthen the road surface. Righetti explained that adding water could rejuvenate the treated surface and that maintenance helped limit washboarding, potholes, loss of road-base material, and dust.
The original story reported favorable environmental and health descriptions of the products. Those descriptions are not a blanket safety guarantee for every exposure or today's formulations. For a current project, request the actual product information and safety data sheets from the department or supplier.
Righetti also stated in the 2023 coverage that the county had not used fracking water, which he called “fossil waters,” for dust control and did not permit that product on county roads. He said adequate safety information had not been supplied when it was considered. This preserves his historical statement; verify current policy directly for a present-day question.
The article reported that the Board of County Commissioners approved a contract at its March 29, 2023 meeting with Smith's Materials LLC of Dolores for gravel crushing at the Norwood and Pathfinder pits. Replacement gravel was described as part of maintaining existing roads after wear and tear.
The county expected to publish its 2023 maintenance schedule on its website and Facebook page. That anticipated schedule and the article's air-quality observation should not be used as current conditions. For today's maintenance information, contact San Miguel County Road & Bridge at 970-327-4835. The county's road-concern page distinguishes county-maintained roads from state highways, private roads, and roads maintained by towns.
Original reporting: Telluride Daily Planet, Ashley Bunton, Associate Editor. For a property search, verify the access route and maintenance responsibility for the specific address. Contact Mountain Rose Realty to discuss the property information available for your search.