Hammonton Road residents face Catch-22 on repairs

If someone happens to drive up to the washed out portion of Hammonton Road, they're not passing without four-wheel drive and some creative detours.

The missing stretch of road is about 40 yards long and 20 yards wide. And since water eroded the road base from underneath, there is a drop of about 10 feet from where the road ends to the ground.

Yuba County officials have steadfastly said the road is not a part of the county's road system.

Click here to read related story: County erects signs on Hammonton Road, but won’t make repairs.

Click here to read op-ed piece: Grand jury should investigate Hammonton Road issues.

Signs at either end warn drivers of its unmaintained nature, and the numerous potholes — some larger than most vehicles — attest to its lack of maintenance.

Because it's not a county road, it would be up to those living along it to come up with the money for repairs, county officials have said.

Freda Calvert said she recently got a contractor's estimate to repair the washout, and was told it would be about $3,000.

But there's a catch. Because it's a public road, many contractors wouldn't take it on without county approval, she said.

County spokesman Russ Brown said no county money has been designated for road repairs.