County looks at $40M in storm road repairs

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — While storm damage is nearing the $40 million mark in Santa Cruz County, California faces an estimated $50 billion price tag for roads, dams and other infrastructure threatened by floods such as the one that severely damaged Oroville Dam last month, the state's natural resources secretary said Wednesday.

Nearly 200,000 people living near the country's tallest dam near Oroville were evacuated three weeks ago amid fears of a catastrophic flood after a chunk of concrete tore out the main spillway following heavy rains.

Swollen rivers, troubled levees and crumbling roads are causing havoc statewide as California copes with likely its wettest year ever, California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird said. Severe winter storms have brought torrential rain and significant snow after five years of drought.

Damage to California's highways is estimated at nearly $600 million. More than 14,000 people in San Jose were forced to evacuate last month and floods shut down a portion of a major freeway.

"Right now we are trying to meet the standards for federal highway assistance," said Santa Cruz County Supervisor Bruce McPherson. "The main focus is on Bear Creek Road in Boulder Creek, Old San Jose out of Soquel, Glenwood Drive out of Scotts Valley and Valencia Road in Aptos; these are the four major roads that see a lot of traffic, where we are seeking special immediate help with. We have to wait for the word on what this (funding) might happen and it is hard to tell just when."

McPherson said Congress members Anna Eshoo and Jimmy Panetta have been "very helpful" in pushing for immediate repairs.

"They have seen it live and in color and they know what we are dealing with," McPherson said.

He added that roughly 1,500 people are being affected by a faltering section of Valencia Road.

"They have legitimate concerns from this catastrophic slip out," McPherson said. "Their ability to get in and out on a daily basis has been limited to a few options. This problem is going to take federal and state help."

McPherson has described the recent storm damage as "worse" than the 1955 flood, the 1982 flood, and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Meanwhile Supervisor Zach Friend said that in the month since Valencia Road closed, county officials held a community meeting where about 75 people attended at Aptos Junior High School.

Friend said that while there was a significant amount of work done to stabilize the Trout Gulch/Valencia location (as well as the upper Valencia slide locations) immediately after the storm events, a lot of behind-the-scenes work has been taking place to expedite the repairs.

County engineers have provided tours of the location to Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives and other officials. Friend has so far estimated that it will cost approximately $4 million to repair the Trout Gulch/Valencia Road damage.

"There is no question that Valencia is a vital link and it's closure is having significant and real impacts on our community," Friend said. "I thought it was important to host the community meeting to give an update on what we know, the progress we've made and how people can help us expedite its repair."

Highway 152 (Hecker Pass) is now open, however it narrows to one lane for both north and southbound traffic, with the aid of a temporary traffic signal in one small section, at a major wash out just south of the summit.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.