Crews to Finish K-Rail Installation in Madison Fire Neighborhoods This Week

The installation of K-rail concrete barriers in the neighborhoods below the Madison Fire burn areas is expected to be completed by the end of the week.

Interim City Manager Francis Delach gave the Monrovia City Council an update on the project Tuesday night.

The placement of gravel bags near the drain areas likely will be done today, he said, adding that Fire Station No. 1 has the materials for the bags and the fire chief is working to get volunteers to assist residents who need help with filling them.

Los Angeles County is building a flood control debris wall for the area as well, a project that should be finished by Dec. 6, he said.

The council voted last month to approve the purchase and installation of the K-rail concrete barriers at a cost of around $209,000.

K-rail barriers are often used near freeway construction areas. Other communities, including La Canada Flintridge and the unincorporated area of La Crescenta, have used the barriers to lessen the extent of damages brought on by the first rains by redirecting mud and debris flow away from homes.

Some residents have raised objections to the K-rail, contending that the placement of the barriers would divert water on to their driveways and cause flooding at their homes.

Others have cited the inconvenience. A couple of the streets in the area, including Heather Heights Court are very narrow.  As a result, Heather Heights will be made into a one-way street as a result of the installation, something residents have said concerns them. 

Resident Richard Mountjoy said all but one resident on Heather Heights signed a petition against the K-rail.  He added that he felt let down the by council because the members agreed to move forward with the county's plan for K-rail. 

"I do believe that a city council owes it to its constituency to at least respond to a petition signed by every resident affected on that street," he said. "I am disappointed with the City Council."

The city and county representatives have had several meetings with residents.  Delach said Tuesday that city staff has approached the county many times to see if there might be some alternatives to K-rail or if it could be installed some places and not others.

Besides Heather Heights, the fire chief also will look at the narrowness of Crescent Drive and may have to do parking restrictions along that street, he said. 

The city also is studying the idea of doing some seeding before the rainy season as a way to possibly shorten the five-year time frame the barriers are expected to be up, he said.

Staff will evaluate the K-rail annually to see if they are still needed. 

Portions of the K-rail are slated to be placed along stretches of Avocado Place (both sides), Highland Place (North of Scenic - east side), Crescent Drive (south side of street), Hillcrest Boulevard (south side), Highland Place (both sides), Heather Heights Court (both sides), and Lotone Street (south side).