Road washout on Anderson Road

Jeff Green | Jan 20, 2016

The massive rainstorm that took place earlier this month caused the overflow of a drainage pipe that runs next to the Anderson Road, which joins Bradshaw Road in South Frontenac with Crow Lake Road in Central Frontenac. Cottage properties on Crow Lake are accessed by Anderson Road, as well as year-round homes.

“The washout came about because of high water in a pond next to the road, which was too much for a pipe that was running parallel to the road near where the CP Rail line crosses,” said Mark Segsworth, Public Works Manager of South Frontenac Township.

The pipe was in place because at that point in the road the township did not have the normal amount of roadside property, as it was a forced road, so instead of proper ditching a pipe was put in place.

“We have not had any problems there, until now, under South Frontenac, but apparently something happened about 20 years ago there,” said Mark Segsworth.

There is very little traffic on the road in the winter months, and property owners are able to access their properties from either end, so the washout has not resulted in a major inconvenience for ratepayers in either township; at least none have been reported to the South Frontenac Public Works department.

“We have contracted McNichols Construction to rebuild the missing lane and provide for ditching, which should take about two weeks [the work started on January 19], depending of course on the weather. We'll look at a more permanent solution in the spring, which might involve acquiring some property,” he said.

The rainstorm that precipitated the washout was not only a heavy storm - up to 5 cm of rain came down in certain locations - it also took place after the ground was frozen so the water stayed on the surface.

“I suspect it was just too much water for the pipe, and the next thing you know 300 feet of road were washed out.”

Road crews from South Frontenac provide winter maintenance on the entire Anderson Road, under an arrangement between Central and South Frontenac Townships. The South Frontenac crews normally travel up the road from Bradshaw and return the same way. Currently they are doing the bottom half, and returning, and then travelling up Road 38 and along Crow Lake road to access the top part.