Fairfield road fight heats up

PROVO — The town of Fairfield doesn't yet have enough money to fix a crumbling road — but it doesn't want anyone else trying to fix it in the meantime.

Oh, but while it's in disrepair, town leaders want truck drivers to stay away.

For two days, attorneys for truck drivers and for the town argued during a bench trial in 4th District Court about 1600 North and whether the town could impose a weight restriction on it.

Judge Anthony Schofield promised a ruling in two weeks on whether the weight limit is legal.

The road war started months ago when turf farmer Keith Jonsson and several other businessmen offered to fix potholes and put a layer of "chip seal" — an oil and rock mix — over the road to improve its stability.

The town's officials denied that idea, saying chip seal doesn't add stability.

To be safe, they said, the road, used primarily by farmers and business owners driving large trucks, needs an overhaul.

But something's better than nothing, argued Jonsson's attorney, Joseph Rust, especially when the town isn't planning any repairs itself.

"Do you have any money earmarked ... for 1600 North?" Rust asked Fairfield Mayor Linn Gillies during the trial.

"No, not technically for 1600 North," Gillies said.

"Do you have any projected date for doing any work on 1600 North?" Rust asked.

"Not at this time," Gillies responded.

But even if the companies were allowed to fix the road, the repairs they've offered aren't sufficient, according to expert testimony.

A scientist from Earthtec Testing and Engineering said tests performed in Fairfield in May indicated super-low stability in the soils when they're wet.

Even a layer of chip seal would last only about a year, considering the current levels of truck traffic, said senior geotechnical engineer Bill Turner.

"It's not a long-term solution," Turner said. "Chip seal is mainly used to seal cracks. It only provides a very thin surface. It's like a piece of cardboard on the ground. It's fine as long as the ground is dry, but once it gets wet, it has no support."

Yet Rust questioned what damage could be done by repairs, albeit temporary ones.

"If someone offered to put in 9 inches of gravel and 3 inches of some oil base, would that be better than leaving it without anything?"

"Um, probably," Turner responded.

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Contributing: Amy Choate-Nielsen

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com