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Barry A.
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If "they" would forget the "all weather" bridges and culverts and just build super good "Texas Crossings", then "they" would not have to worry about
wash outs every time a big storm comes thru. Storm comes and floods come----- you just wait a few hours and then drive-on across with Texas Crossings
in the desert, and you don't have to re-build the road every time.
I have never understood their (and our) thinking on this.
Barry (the engineer want-a-bee)
[Edited on 9-30-2008 by Barry A.]
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rts551
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Lots of boulders and rocks come floating down across the "road". They have become the road in some cases. Probably have to be cleared on a "Texas
crossing"
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by rts551
Lots of boulders and rocks come floating down across the "road". They have become the road in some cases. Probably have to be cleared on a "Texas
crossing" |
Yes, but wouldn't it be faster, cheaper, and easier to push those boulders "aside" than building an entire new bridge, or culvert??
Barry
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David K
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Is that like the dips (vados) in Anza Borrego, Barry?
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Barry A.
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Yeah, David. A "texas crossing" is often used in desert environs as an inexpensive way to "handle" flash floods when building secondary roads. Baja
uses them a lot, also.
The vados are reinforced with concrete and rock, so when the flash flood comes it simply sweeps over the road instead of backing up behind a culvert,
or between bridge abutments, and then washing out the road as it tops over it. The vados don't have to be as abrupt as the one's between San Felipe
and Puertecitos----those are really extreme, but if more gentle, traffic flows nicely.
"Texas crossings" are not appropriate for really high-speed heavily traveled highways, but for secondary roads they work great, in my opinion, and
sure save a lot of time and money, in both building, and clearing after floods.
Barry
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David K
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Okay thanks... I just never heard the term 'Texas Crossing' before... Hwy. 98 between Ocotillo and Calexico has them, too... they are long and easy to
cruise over at 65 mph. The ones south of San Felipe are insane... I would imaging that they will all get removed when the highway gets out to Laguna
Chapala and Mex. 5 becomes a main route south...?
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Okay thanks... I just never heard the term 'Texas Crossing' before... Hwy. 98 between Ocotillo and Calexico has them, too... they are long and easy to
cruise over at 65 mph. The ones south of San Felipe are insane... I would imaging that they will all get removed when the highway gets out to Laguna
Chapala and Mex. 5 becomes a main route south...? |
Re "texas crossing,..." here in California we call them "Arizona crossings." Go figure out that one 
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Barry A.
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David--------the problem with the vados south of San Felipe is that the arroyos are so deep and narrow (where the vados are) that they would have had
to spend a lot of bucks on the individual approaches to those vados to even them out and mitigate the abruptness------they chose not to do that (money
again, I presume).
But in order to eliminate them or make them gentle, they will still have to spend some big bucks later on. I am betting that they go with culverts
instead, and that means that the road will be extensively closed when a Tropical Storm (or worse) comes thru, or they will just leave them the way
they are now (which probably is not a bad idea).
The arroyos east of Ocotillo in the Imperial Valley, and also south of the Ocotillo Wells OHV area, are all pretty much at the same level as the
highway, making things a lot easier to handle when constructing the "texas crossings".
As you might imagine, there are a lot of "Texas Crossings" in Texas, as I am sure Skeet can attest too. 
Barry
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Re "texas crossing,..." here in California we call them "Arizona crossings." Go figure out that one |
-----that is a new one on me, even as a 3rd generation Californio------never heard the phrase "Arizona crossing", but it does make sense.
We learn something everyday------thanks, Mtgoat.
Barry
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Skeet/Loreto
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Yes there are many here in Texas which when compared to other states has an excellent system of Roads that on the most part are well kept.
I am sure that Californias prefer to call their crossings Arizona. Goes back to the dust Bowl days when all those Texan, Okies, and Arkies came to the
Central Valley and Ruined it.
Very Serious and True to this Date; Some of my Classmates from Amarillo will still not go to California, are still claiming that Calif. Ruins People!
And they are over 75 years old, !!
It takes all kinds.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
Yes there are many here in Texas which when compared to other states has an excellent system of Roads that on the most part are well kept.
I am sure that Californias prefer to call their crossings Arizona. Goes back to the dust Bowl days when all those Texan, Okies, and Arkies came to the
Central Valley and Ruined it.
Very Serious and True to this Date; Some of my Classmates from Amarillo will still not go to California, are still claiming that Calif. Ruins People!
And they are over 75 years old, !!
It takes all kinds. |
skeet's peeps in Texas are nuts
as you are in baja, why not call it a vado?
if you don't like spanish, here are some more words:
ford
furt
voorde
watersplash
underwater road
irish bridge
causeway
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dtbushpilot
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In New Mexico we call them Vado's.....at least I do....dt
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Barry A.
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| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
In New Mexico we call them Vado's.....at least I do....dt |
A "vado" is a "ford" according to the Spanish dictionary. A "texas crossing" etc. is not necessarily a "ford"-------it is only a "ford" when the
water is running.
----which brings up the question why do the signs in Mexico say "vado" at "texas crossings"? I guess to tell motorists that when running water is
present, this is a "vado" (a ford).
Makes sense, to me.
Anybody out there in favor of culverts???
(oh boy, I must be getting bored)
Barry
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
| Quote: | Originally posted by dtbushpilot
In New Mexico we call them Vado's.....at least I do....dt |
A "vado" is a "ford" according to the Spanish dictionary. A "texas crossing" etc. is not necessarily a "ford"-------it is only a "ford" when the
water is running.
----which brings up the question why do the signs in Mexico say "vado" at "texas crossings"? I guess to tell motorists that when running water is
present, this is a "vado" (a ford).
Makes sense, to me.
Anybody out there in favor of culverts???
(oh boy, I must be getting bored)
Barry |
wet or dry, it is still a vado (or ford).
culverts are coverered surface water conveyances (e.g. pipe or box culvert)
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Barry A.
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MtGoat said, "culverts are coverered surface water conveyances (e.g. pipe or box culvert) "------
------and I say, "not after a tropical storm or hurricane comes thru". 
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Juan del Rio
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October 1st Observation...
We came in yesterday on the South Road from Loreto Airport and there was a "quickie" thunderstom that blew through the Insurgentes area and knocked
out power. As we drove West towards SJ, we came across this which had just happened. We think this was the problem. Pretty green as well!
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Juan del Rio
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South Road iin fair shape...
We rented a Durango with very poor shocks, great A/C and did not lower the air pressure in the tires. We had seven adults with luggage and a couple of
boards on top. No problem at all with the paved road and the dirt portion of the South Road. The grader had been through the week before, so it was a
"fair" ride in from the turnoff. FYI, water temp was 83 degrees today; Air was hot, hot w/little to zero breeze.
David, there is no bridge...I have no idea how they will ever do a bridge across the Purisima Arroyo. It's huge, especially when the rains from the
mountains come through! Gotta love the thought process of the road builders though!
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