California’s famous Highway 1 near Big Sur was closed in the spring when a rain-triggered rockslide washed away part of the roadway. Caltrans moved quickly to restore the road and hired Teichert Construction to handle the emergency repairs.
To restore the roadway, the company stabilized the rockfall area on a 200-foot cliff next to the ocean, keeping traffic flow in the only available lane.
“This was a high-risk, high-priority job site that operated 24/7,” said Jeremy Young, Teichert’s superintendent.
Forty vertical holes about 25 feet deep were drilled into the road bed and steel studs inserted and grouted. Five rows of holes were drilled horizontally into the cliff face and also reinforced with steel and grout.
Young captured this photo of the operations in April from a promontory adjacent to the work area with his iPhone 14. The image captured how unique, dangerous and complex the operations turned out to be, he said . “The photo has stunning views of the California landscape that also remind you of the powerful forces of Mother Nature.”
The roadway reopened to regular traffic on May 17, two weeks ahead of schedule.
