| District: | 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties |
| Contact: | Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers |
| Phone: | (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ROCKY CREEK REPAIRS CONTINUE WITH HORIZONTAL SUPPORT DRILLING AND ADDITION OF OVERNIGHT SHIFTS
MONTEREY COUNTY– Crews continue to make progress with edge stabilization work at the Highway 1 Rocky Creek slip out.
This first phase of the stabilization effort involves drilling, installing, and grouting in steel elements to stabilize the edge of the slip out. Last week crews completed installation of the vertical rock dowels. This week crews drilled anchor supports for deployment of a crane which is now in place and will allow crews to begin the installation of the horizontal rock dowels. This will be followed by an application of shotcrete to the sheer face of the rock slope.
The horizontal dowels will be installed in 5 rows and after each row is complete, the face of the rock slope will be treated with reinforcing shotcrete. There is a 12-hour cure time before crews can begin drilling work on the next horizontal row.
The rock dowels provide shear resistance along potential failure planes in the rock mass, the grout provides cementation and connection of the dowels to the rock mass, and the shotcrete facing distributes load to the dowels and protects the rock slope from wind and rain erosion.
Crews have installed a light tower on an outcropping above and adjacent to the slip out and crews performing drilling for the horizontal rock dowels will work their first overnight shift tonight. The plan going forward is for crews to work two 12-hour shifts per day.
This stabilization project is a temporary repair which will allow the resumption of unrestricted traffic flow through the area until a permanent fix can be designed and constructed that would restore the southbound lanes that were lost in the rockslide.
Caltrans recently estimated that the completion date for the initial stabilization work at the Rocky Creek slip out would be Memorial Day, May 27. This would mark the end of the current convoys and allow alternating one-way travel through the area without an escort using 24/7 signalized traffic control.
The current convoys are operated at 7 am and 5 pm and are intended for the use of local residents and essential workers only. Limiting the volume of vehicles through the repair site is one strategy which is helping manage the risks associated with conditions at the rockslide and with emergency response.
Road information and updates can also be found on Caltrans District 5 Social Media platforms: Twitter at: @CaltransD5, Facebook at: Caltrans Central Coast (District 5) and Instagram at: Caltrans_D5.
CalTrans- this transcript reports that two lanes south will be repaired😳how bout only 1 for a much speedier job🎉