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I " ~ ;) J..J.A.... 144 METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT A few timber bridges, corrugated-iron culverts, and occasional timber culverts were used, but in general desert drainage channels were crossed by paved dips with easy vertical curves. The lower side of each dip was protected against scour, in case of flood, by a concrete cut-off wall extending the length of the dip. The surfaced roads in the District system were graded and paved under seven contracts, except the branch roads to Division 2 camp and to the Hayfield pumping plant, built by District forces, the Earp to Parker dam road graded by the City of Los Angeles, and the stub roads previously mentioned. Lengths of the various roads, dates of completion, and construction costs are given in Table 13. The District construction road system was built to serve aque- duct construction and operation only. However, since the roads opened extensive but previously inaccessible portions of the Cali- fornia desert, made a shortcut from Coachella Valley to Needles and points north, and provided an access to Arizona through Par- ker, recreational and commercial traffic has grown to quite im- portant proportions. While the District permitted such use at all times it became necessary to post signs warning travelers that they used all District roads at their own risk. Each division engineer is responsible for maintaining the Dis- trict-owned roads within his division. Maintenance has consisted of patching the wearing surface, principally along the edges, pro- tecting the wearing surface by applications of seal-coat oil, or of road oil and gravel, as required, reshaping shoulders and ditches, and clearing dips after storms. A number of severe storms have struck the District system without damage more serious than the partial filling of dips with debris and some gullying of shoulders. Motor patrol graders, light trucks, and other standard equipment are in use. The cost of maintenance by calendar years is given in Table 13, the amount per mile per month averaging approximately $15.00. rransfe,' of ,'oads On January 28, 1938 the board of directors of the District, by resolution, authorized the transfer to the County of Riverside of its interest in the Coachella Valley-Berdoo Canyon road from Gar- net to India and the Little Morongo Canyon road. These transfers were made by deeds dated February 7 and February 19, 1938, re- spectively. By the end of the year 1938 it is anticipated that trans- 'l .. I .~ I II 'I I J ~