“Red Phone, when is the Tan Oak Campground at Mount Madonna Park going to re-open? It has been closed for more than a year.”
Red Phone: Dear Unhappy Camper, the popular Tan Oak Campground is part of the area that has been closed as crews cut down about 1,000 infected tan oaks in the area. The trees were attacked by a fungus that could cause them to fall and injure anyone in the area. In addition, a form of oak rot canker that attacks trees from the core of the trunk has also been discovered.
The county plans to reopen the campsite for Memorial Day weekend, said Tamara Clark, public information officer for the Santa Clara County Parks Department.
Campsites fill up quickly that weekend, so you’ll want to make sure to get your reservations in for Mount Madonna or any other county park early by calling 355-2201 or going to gooutsideandplay.org.
Trucks hauling dirt will be rerouted
“Red Phone, for the past two months, trucks have been running loads of dirt from Fry’s Golf Course to a private nursery near U.S 101 and Cochrane Road. The trucks leave the golf course and proceed northbound on Foothill then westbound on Maple, northbound on Hill, westbound on Diana, northbound on Condit, eastbound on Half then northbound on Mission View. It seems odd the trucks would travel this route when it would be faster to use U.S. 101. The trucks are damaging the shoulder at Maple and Hill. I don’t believe these roads were designed for heavy truck traffic. Does Fry’s need a permit to move this small mountain of dirt.”
Red Phone: Dear Annoyed, Red Phone contacted City Attorney Danny Wan, who said that he believes (but cannot verify) that at least some of the trucks you are referring to are moving dirt as part of the excavation for the foundation of the American Institute of Math. As part of a permit issued by the city, the city requires the trucks to take a pre-designated route that mostly avoids local roads and directs the traffic to the freeway. However, since part of the designated route falls within county and California Highway Patrol jurisdictions, the trucks may have received contradictory directions from different jurisdictions about which routes they may take.
“The city intends to request that the trucks notify and coordinate with all relevant jurisdictions before resuming the dirt hauling and use the routes as designated by the city as part of the permit,” Wan said.
Good caller, hope that helps.
