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photo by Mike Simmons
Road blocks, sandbags and plastic fencing have been present on Freeborn County 34 since shortly after heavy rains June 11 and 12 washed out the roadway and a man died when his car submerged in the high water.
County 34 washout
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008
Video
The Freeborn County Highway Department placed jersey barriers to block automobile access to the washout on Freeborn County 34. The jersey barriers are in addition to road blocks already at the site. Watch »
The Freeborn County Highway Department placed jersey barriers Tuesday on Freeborn County 34 between road blocks that were already in place and the deadly washout. Click here to read a story.
Photo by Mike Simmons
Cattle graze next to the drainage ditch that once flowed through the culvert but now flows free through the washout. A memorial to the people who died remains on the north side of the County 34 washout, which is in Oakland Township. The drainage ditch eventually flows into Orchard Creek in Mower County. People can go to AlbertLeaTribune.com to see a video of the scene.
Photo by Mike Simmons
Now, if people get past the road blocks, they encounter jersey barriers. The Freeborn County Highway Department on Tuesday morning erected them on both sides of the washout. Two people died as a result of injuries sustained June 29 when a sport-utility truck somehow went around the roadblocks careened off the edge of the washout.
Comments
Posted by albertleab (anonymous) on July 17, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to see a barricade down in the ditch or at least some sharp poles to keep those who want from 4 wheeling around. And maybe some flashing lights out in the farmers field, just in case they don't take the sign serious. And I might also suggest the sign say that the road "really, really, really is closed, no we're not kidding this time." Road closed just does not mean enough anymore apparently.
Posted by wingo (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 3:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, maybe if we lived in a perfect world. It is not only the people that go off these roads that have been known to move the barricades. Some people do it as a "joke", so funny, huh. I think that they should all be made unmovable, but then it's not a perfect world is it.
Posted by albertleab (anonymous) on July 18, 2008 at 5:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, there is no reason to move or go around a barricade, so we put in concrete ones and some putz hits it and is killed or sues and we pay even more for their stupidity.
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