CALIFORNIA STATE EDITION
A Supplement to:
April 21 2024 Vol. V • No. 8
“The Nation’s Best Read Construction Newspaper… Founded in 1957.” Your California Connection – Sharon Swanson – 1-760-518-4336 – sswanson@cegltd.com
Snap Into Action Caltrans, Crews Working to Repair Highway Landslides By Irwin Rapoport CEG CORRESPODNENT
A landslide on Highway 1 (The Pacific Coast Highway) led to an approximately 7-ft. section of the outer lane sliding down the hillside and the indefinite closure of the famed highway in Big Sur for 40 mi., which leaves only one functional lane open based on convoys overseen by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and law enforcement authorities to ensure a safe passage for motorists. The landslide was caused by heavy rains. “Another section of California’s Highway 1 has collapsed days after Caltrans announced it was getting closer to its promised reopen ing of the scenic roadway in the wake of destructive landslides brought on by stormy weather,” Caltrans said. The DOT has been on top of the situation since the section collapsed. Emergency crews and engineers have been onsite assessing the damage, state of the highway in the immediate area and sorting out the traffic situation, which initially left more than 1,600 motorists stranded overnight. “Activities following this incident included the addition of gravel to the drainage ditch off the shoulder of the northbound lane to ensure proper drainage through the site,” stated Caltrans. “Work was also completed to pave over a gravel-filled ditch and part of the dirt shoulder of the northbound lane to gain extra room in the travel lane. Caltrans is continuing to focus on repair strategies to stabilize the edge of the roadway with details of this operation, work hours and timetable to be announced when details are certain.” The installation of a barrier to protect highway workers and temporary re-striping to accommodate equipment expected to be mobilized to this area was completed the
Landslides are causing havoc throughout the state, including on Big Sur where a 7 ft. section of roadway collapsed and has closed the famed highway indefinitely for 40 mi. Local residents needed convoys of food and other vital supplies.
weekend of April 5. “Additionally, emergency responses through the closure area are complicated by the presence of heavy machinery staged in the northbound lane, which could take up to an hour to remove,” Caltrans said. see ACTION page 6
Caltrans has already removed close to 500,000 cu. yds. of debris due to one landslide.