Granite has completed their work to widen the road at the Bear Cave staging area (Mile 44.8) and continued work on the Mile 44 staging area. The Mile 44 site will be the largest of three off-road staging areas and will allow the contractors to transport and store large bridge structure pieces closer to the project area. Preparing each site requires trimming the vegetation, laying down geotextile fabric, and filling it in with aggregate material. The sites are located outside of wilderness and will be restored and revegetated upon project completion.
Granite began earthwork last week by taking down the “knob” on the south side of the road at the east side of the slide. They are currently running both day and night shifts, with nighttime work continuing to haul material from the Tek Pit to the staging areas and daytime work cutting, shaping, and stabilizing the north rock wall at the east abutment. They will also begin work on an equipment access road across the slide.
The beginning of earthworks on the east side of the slide.
Photo courtesy of FHWA
The Mile 44 staging area (circled in yellow) is visible from the Park Road as you are driving west toward the East Fork Bridge.NPS Photo