McKinnon Flats Open, repairs complete

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

ESRD writes: "Repairs to the access road into McKinnon Flats are now complete and the launch site has been reopened. Public access and use is welcomed.

The repairs enhance the resiliency of the road to withstand weather events and improve access for anglers, outfitters and the public alike. These repairs include reshaping the existing road, culvert installation, and placement of gravel.

Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels on the river!"

We were pleased to be able to provide the very first shuttle down to Mac this afternoon on the improved road. It was an unexpected reverse shuttle for a couple of visiting fly fishing drift boaters from south of the 49th.

McKinnon Flats road work Day 4

The grader operator drove his unit down from Airdrie this morning.All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

The gravel trucks began arriving this morning, along with the grader.

There were three trucks, with a fourth expected sometime later in the day. We understand that hauling gravel would continue on Friday.

They are using 'belly dump' trucks as opposed to 'end dump' trucks. That's what creates the fairly neat row of gravel down the centre of the road.

We were told that these large trucks were actually having a bit of a challenge coming back up the very steep road, on the gravel that they had just laid down.

We were surprised to learn that they are hauling the gravel in from Beiseker. So the grader operator has a bit of a wait between the trips.

There was also a small crew applying rip rap to the ends of the culverts that were out of our view.

The first round of gravel had been laid out just about to the end of the section of road that can be seen in this photo.

The grader had done some work up the the first corner that had the culvert installed yesterday.

This is a stock photo of a 'belly dump' gravel truck.

McKinnon Flats road work Day 3

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

The third culvert was installed today. The second culvert that was installed yesterday needed to be 'tweeked'.

A padfoot packer was doing its thing - packing the road. This type of packer is intended to leave the surface somewhat rough, so that it will have a better chance of holding on to the gravel on this very steep road.

They plan to begin hauling in the gravel tomorrow.

All hands were on deck for whatever 'tweeking' was required on the second culvert, which was installed yesterday.

This is the sign at the junction of Highway 22X and Range Road 274

McKinnon Flats road work Day 2

All photos, © Bow River Shuttles

The D6 Cat was carving out a drainage ditch along the road.

Two culverts were being installed today, with a third one going in tomorrow.

The bobcat was repairing the section of the road where the first culvert had been installed.

The excavator was digging a trench for the second culvert.