The County’s top priority is repairing and reopening roads that were damaged and closed during the fire. This includes replacing damaged guardrails, removing dead trees, and strengthening roadbeds that were weakened by the intense heat. Emergency repair work will also restore damaged flood control infrastructure, including the construction of temporary protection against winter rains.
Damage reports are still preliminary, but early estimates from the Station Fire area reveal the need to repair at least 95 guardrail locations, remove more than 760 trees, clean out 24 debris basins, and repair minor damage at the construction site of the ongoing $88 million Big Tujunga Dam Seismic Rehabilitation Project. Additionally, the County will need to rebuild the destroyed Public Works office and crew quarters at the Mill Creek road division depot near Angeles Forest Highway.
“We are removing the bureaucratic red tape by giving Public Works the authority to make these repairs,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We need to get the burn areas on the road to recovery as soon as possible and this motion will make that a reality.”
“This action allows the County to fast-track repairs and minimize the risk of potential mudslides and floods in the aftermath of the fire,” said Supervisor Antonovich.