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Tunnel Clean-Up

I was planning a Spring Tunnel Clean-up Day, but thanks to our friend Jim Brannon aka “Santa”, it won’t be necessary. Jim organized the work Friday, with his little “Green Tractor” and the help of two young men, Lance and Christian donating time for their Community Service. Lance and Christian cleared the drains, squeegeed the accumulated water, then swept and blew out the entire tunnel. The tunnel was looking a bit shabby after our long winter and with the current higher humidity, water was already starting to accumulate in the tunnel. By the next day the tunnel was looking great.

Tunnel Clean-up.

I arrived a bit later and helped with cleaning up the leaves, rock and debris along the North side of the west entrance and in the rock sitting area. I don’t know how many times we filled up the bucket of Jim’s tractor, but I bet it was at least a dozen…(I should have gotten a picture). I did get some picture the next day.

Tunnel, West Entrance.

Rock sitting area.

Verizon Cable Replacement
During the recent storm the Verizon fiber segment between Mc Pherson Church Rd and the Brushy Mountain Tunnel was struck by lightning three times requiring replacement of the cable. I went up Friday to see what they were doing and to make sure they planned on restoring the drainage. I don’t like mud on the trail.

Verizon cable replacement.

We’ve run the trail blower > 370 miles for 2011.
I was able to run the trail blower Thursday and Friday, for 100 miles. Due to recent heavy rains in the Rockmart area, several of the sections were flooded and others had excessive washout of silt and rock. Rains were so heavy the river rose sufficiently to deposit silt on the Silver Comet Trail bridge over the river in Rockmart. Silting was very heavy in sections of the river walk in Rockmart too. Sections of the trail east and west of Rockmart were still flooded. Debris washout was so heavy in some areas that a torrent took down farm fencing, which was propped back into place. I suspect this area encountered a micro burst as many branches were broken from trees too.

Flood damaged fence and debris.

Flooding at a narrow section of the trail west of the Atlanta Rd over-crossing was covering the trail. Debris accumulation was forcing the water over the trail.

Trail flooding west of the Atlanta Rd crossing.

Thursday, I shoveled the debris clear allowing the water to drain along the trail.  When I returned  Friday the section was dry (one damp spot).  I used the trail blower to clear the debris and silt.  This is how that trail section looked late Friday.  Viewed from the opposite direction, also note the effective drainage on the right in the section that Jim Brannon had cleared with his tractor.

Cleaned section west of the Atlanta Rd over-crossing.

The trail entrance to the tunnel under GA Hwy6 at the junction with US278 was covered with  mud,  again.  I shot a video expressing my thoughts about the poor drainage design.

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YouTube Direkt

The low section of the trail between US278 and Old Cedartown was flooded at several points.  Debris dams were preventing runoff, plus work needs to be done to improve drainage.  I shot a video here too…  you can see how much water was flowing across here after a removed a portion of the debris dam.  The cyclist riding through “the pond” was not staged.

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YouTube Direkt

After cleaning the remainder of the trail to Alabama and returning, much of the water had drained.  The pool was much smaller and there was almost a rideable margin.

Flooded section, slightly improved.

Past Landfill hill there was a lot of rock washout from the rain.  Lots of rock and gravel dried into the mud.  It took a lot of shoveling and broom work to break it loose for the blower to clean-up.  The upper section did have some large rocks which would be very dangerous on a descent.

Rock washout west of Landfill Hill.

Fortunately, the section west of Cedartown wasn’t nearly as bad.  Nothing that required special attention with a shovel or broom.  It was a long hard day of work, but I did get to eat dinner at Frankie’s and Jim Brannon picked up the tab.

Thanks Jim!

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