Mountains : Four Mountain Roads to Be Reopened Today

Four rugged roads that wind through Cleveland National Forest in the Santa Ana Mountains will reopen today after long maintenance delays caused by broken equipment and a reduced forest work force.

The North Main Divide, Bedford Motorway, Indian Truck Trail and Maple Springs Road will be open only to registered, highway-legal vehicles beginning today, announced Trabuco District Ranger Nancy Curriden. The roads may be closed again during periods of high fire danger.

“They originally closed for the winter season . . . when the roadbed gets wet and saturated, to protect both the roads and the public,” said Bill Pidanick, public affairs officer for the Trabuco District.

After the winter rains, the roads must be graded, and rocks and boulders removed.

“This year it took longer than it usually does,” Pidanick said, blaming breakdowns of the forest’s grading machine and reduced Forest Service staffing, caused in part by federal budget cuts.

Off-road vehicles are not allowed on the four roads that are reopening, but are restricted to the Wildomar Off-Highway Vehicle Area, eight miles south of Ortega Highway off the South Main Divide.