As promised, here are some pics of the project taken today. Unfortunately, Rock Knocker had to run off before he could explain them to me, so I could ‘splain them to you … so what you get is just the photos. What a project!! Honestly, I did pare these down to just a dozen. There were at least 5 dozen to choose from. Engineers and road aficionados might be the only ones interested in this post. And historians, like me! 😉
Thanks so much, Rock Knocker for taking these so readers can see the project up close and personal, as only you can do!!
Category: Pitkin’s Curve
Pitkin’s Curve Project
Funny, just a few days ago I was asking Rock Knocker to please, please, please go get some more shots of the Pitkins Curve Project, and today, Cal-Trans sent one.
Sorry, Cal-Trans, I had to straighten the horizon, as crooked horizons drive me nuts, even though I do it all the time. While I was there, I made it a tad underexposed, and a tad more saturated. Now you all know my secret.
Great photo, though!
By the time Cal-Trans is finished with this project, the motoring public won’t realize it is driving on air.
Pitkin’s Curve Project
Per Cal-Trans, “This area is part of an historically active landslide. Repairs were required in 1998 after the El Nino storms of that year. In February 2000, a more massive slipout below the road resulted in complete closure of the roadway. Due to the magnitude of the slipout, previous strategies for reconstructing the roadway were no longer feasible. In order to found the road on a stable base, realignment into the hillside was required; the roadway remain closed for three months while the detour was constructed. This alignment continues in place as a temporary solution until feasibility of a long-term strategy is fully evaluated.”
Here are some Cal-Trans photos of the slip-out of 2000:
This shows the artists rendering of the eventual bridge over Pitkin’s Curve and the Rock Shed at Rain Rocks. Quite a project, but one those of us on the South Coast are glad to finally see, despite the interim inconvenience.
Here is the link to the flyer Cal-Trans put out four years ago about the project: Pitkin’s Curve/Rain Rocks flyer
All Cal-Trans photos used with permission provided by Steve Price! Thanks, Steve!!
Don’t forget to check out the May 2010 photos of the project here. You will see the construction of the 50 ft x 50 ft anchor for the south side of the bridge.
There is a small city at Pitkin’s Curve
All the following photographs were taken by Rock Knocker on May 11, 2010. He promised me he would go every month or so, with his hard hat and vest, and take more so we can all follow this amazing engineering feat, which started construction November 30, 2009, and is predicted to take four years.
Few of us could ever hope to get shots like this, and even fewer would ever get permission to do so. Thanks, Rock Knocker!
And it looks like this:
It even has its own Motel 6:
Not that I’d want to stay there, even with the view!
Here is the new city from a longer perspective:
My internet has gone wonkers on me this evening, and I have quite a few more photographs to post. I will have to add them tomorrow, as I have reached my patience limit tonight.
The two work platforms (and no, it is not the start of the bridge construction, that will be a while coming) are depicted here:
Here is the south work platform:
Here is the north work platform. Note the people for perspective. That is a 150 TON crane sitting on the platform!
This post is a “work in progress.” I will be uploading more photos as the internet goddess allows.
This “box” is 50 feet by 50 feet. Inside you see a remotely operated excavator. It has the drill on, and the plan is to drill a number of 5 ft. square holes, to an unknown depth, which will then provide support columns to anchor the south end of the bridge. This 50×50 foot box will then be filed completely with 5 ft. of cement.
This is the head honcho on this project. Rock Knocker told me his name … but I failed to write it down.
Tomorrow, I will post some Cal-Trans photos of the slip out in 2000 which lead to this project. I am also searching for the rendering of the project, which I have seen, and participated in (along with the rock shed at Rain Rocks) as part of the Aesthetic and Design Committee.