SLO County adds dirt embankments along road to discourage camping, trash dumps
San Luis Obispo County drivers accustomed to seeing piles of trash and parked vehicles along Turri Road may notice a difference these days.
In an effort to curb dumping and homeless camping, the Department of Public Works installed a series of dirt berms along the shoulders of Turri Road, which connects Los Osos Valley Road and South Bay Boulevard.
Standing as much as 3 feet tall in some places, the berms cover turnouts along the road that were previously hotspots for homeless individuals living in their vehicles, San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Works public information specialist Shelly Cone told The Tribune.
“We were aware that there were some areas of Turri where people were illegally dumping trash and camping, and it’s been our staff’s experience that adding a physical barrier in addition to the signage is beneficial in deterring that behavior,” Cone said.
After several months of planning, Public Works constructed the berms last week in collaboration with San Luis Obispo County Homeless Services and California State Parks, Cone said.
Cone said there were no active encampments along the road when Public Works completed the work last week.
All told, adding the embankments cost the county $20,000, Cone said.
This story was originally published August 22, 2024 at 10:19 AM.
