Roads
Maintenance
NOTICE: Road maintenance starting Thursday 06/20/2024. Expect minor delays.
This year all the culverts are in good shape, so we do not expect any road closures. Our main efforts will be to keep the ditches clean, build up the gravel base, and the never-ending task of taking care of the pesky potholes.
The roads are a combination of private and community-maintained roads. All roads are gravel and require annual maintenance. The most heavily used common roads are maintained once a year with new gravel, grading and Dustac. Maintenance of the road shoulders and culverts are also carried out along with the grading. Potholes are filled in as needed throughout the year.
To preserve the roads and keep dust down, please drive slowly and encourage your visitors to obey the 15-mph speed limit.
Animal Crossing
In spring and fall it is common to see the geese and turkeys, trailed by their offspring in various stages of growth and distraction, wandering across Old Farm road. The Andrews suggested some traffic signs may be a good idea and in no time, actually closer to 6 months, the intrepid road crew sprang into action. Thanks to their gallant actions the budding population of goslings and poults will now be safe(r) from marauding delivery vehicles and other 4-wheeled menaces.
From left: Stewart Andrew, Jacques Retief, and Gordon Crowe.
Pictures by Cindy Andrew
Useful Information
The roads are graded in early summer, depending on the weather. We usually send a warning out to the members, so they are aware of the pending disruption.
If you would like to have your driveway graded when the contractors are here to grade the community roads, please contact Island Excavating, Inc. directly at (360) 376-2122
Dustac®
Dustac commonly refers to lignosulfonate, a byproduct of the pulp mills in the western US and Canada. As the name indicates it consists mostly of lignin, the molecule that gives strength to wood, branches and roots. Lignosulfonate has many applications in industry, it is slightly acidic (10% solution, pH >5), and water soluble. Because it is water soluble, we have to wait for dry weather before application. The product is effective, but it is expensive and has to be reapplied every year.
Dustac has a good safety profile and is not a known toxicant or irritant. For more safety information please see the Manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).