The 2023 construction season has come to a successful end. The contractor has completed the process of demobilizing equipment and shutting down facilities and they have moved out of the park for the winter.
Lots of work was accomplished this summer and we are happy to report that the project remains on schedule. In line with the project timeline announced last May, the earthworks and bridge foundations are scheduled to be completed in 2024 and the bridge is scheduled to be built in 2025, with a project completion date in 2026.
Below are some highlights from this summer's work! Read back through older blog posts for more details. Regular updates will return to this blog next spring when construction work resumes.
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Four staging areas for storing construction materials were created at Mile 44, Mile 44.8 (Bear Cave), Mile 45.1, and Mile 45.6.
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Earthworks at the east bridge abutment area involved excavating, shaping, and stabilizing the north rock wall above the road.
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Geotechnical monitoring instruments were installed and a baseline topographic survey of the area was gathered.
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A rough access route was constructed across the slide, allowing the contractor to move a crane and other equipment to the west side.
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Blasting work completed on the west side involved excavating the upper and lower benches on the west abutment rock cut, drilling blast holes, blasting, and mucking (removing the broken rock and soil from the excavation area).
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26 concrete foundation blocks (13 each for the west and east abutments) were poured and cured in Anchorage and will be stored in the park for the winter.
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Attenuator fencing was installed on the east abutment rock wall for safety during construction.
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A micropile test program on the east side of the slide was completed and concluded the construction activities for the 2023 season.
Winter arrives at Pretty Rocks. Photo taken by an automated camera on October 10, 2023.NPS Photo