Since last week, the contractor has installed a protective structure over NPS monitoring instruments on the west side of the slide, completed bench excavations, and drilled blast holes for the first blast of the west abutment rock wall on September 8. This week, drilling, blasting, and mucking (removing the broken rock and soil from the excavation area) continue on the west abutment rock wall. For public safety, the expanded closure for blasting work at Pretty Rocks will remain in place until the contractor field season shuts down for winter.
Side dump truck traffic will continue to operate between the park entrance, Tek Pit, and East Fork this week and the 13 precast concrete blocks for the west abutment are still being fabricated in Anchorage.
Placing a cut-out cargo container to protect the Pretty Rocks monitoring station during blasting.Photo courtesy of FHWA