Caltrans has undertaken emergency repairs on SR 2 due to storm and wildfire damage, with ongoing efforts to stabilize the highway and embankments for future safety. The project has faced challenges but progress continues with experienced crews and advanced construction techniques.
Photo courtesy of Caltrans
Crews work to repair weather-damaged State Route 2 in Los Angeles County.
The article below originally appeared in and is posted with permission from:
https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com
Aside from stressing residents, the winter and spring storms the past two years (not to mention the wildfires around Los Angeles) have really tested the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), which faces damaged roads and related infrastructure around the state.
But Caltrans has reacted rapidly, not only dealing with the immediate impacts but also completing the necessary repairs to restore the damaged roads and protect them from future damage as much as possible.
Photo courtesy of Caltrans
One such ongoing project is the State Route 2 Emergency Highway Repairs project along several miles of SR 2/ Angeles Crest Highway in Los Angeles County in Angeles National Forest. SGV Enterprises Inc. of Los Angeles is conducting the work.
"There are multiple emergency projects to repair damage to the highway and its slopes and embankments," said Marc Bischoff, a Caltrans public relations officer. "Relentless storms from the winter of 2022-‘23 caused excessive damage to SR-2 that includes sections of collapsed roadway, slope failure, rockslides, drainage and a damaged elevated cable-mesh drapery system that was replaced.
"Several retaining walls will be constructed. The areas of reconstruction will be reinforced and stabilized with the intent to prevent future highway, slope and embankment failures in the same locations and maintain a safe travel route."
SR 2 was closed from east of Mount Wilson Red Box Road to just west of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road starting in March of 2023, and it reopened to the public on July 5, 2024.
"That section was closed for several days again in August of 2024 to complete some final roadway work," Bischoff said. "SR 2 is now open from I-210 to Islip Saddle. SR 2 remains closed from Islip Saddle to Vincent Gulch to complete repairs that will include construction of two retaining walls."
In September, nature intervened again, when a wildfire known as the Bridge Fire damaged a 7-mi. section of SR 2 around the Los Angeles/San Bernardino county line. An emergency order was approved to repair damaged guard rails and slopes, install erosion control, repair damaged drainage systems and remove hazardous trees.
Bischoff said the weather is an ongoing factor in creating delays and extensions. There's no word yet on damages inflicted by multiple recent fires around Los Angeles.
A 16-mi. section of SR 2 is now closed in both directions and likely won't reopen until the spring, according to Caltrans.
"Members of the Caltrans [District 7] Geotechnical Division had to review damaged sections of highway in person and through drone aerial video to assess damage that continued to change and increase every time it rained," he said. "The Design Division must create plans to repair every section of damage and for the construction of new retaining walls. The Environmental Division had to secure permits from state and federal agencies. Reparation of slopes and embankments is a slow and dangerous process that includes rock scalers and heavy equipment traversing steep inclines.
"Repairs on the lower section continued during the rainy season," he added. "Every time it rains, the soil must dry for up to three days before work that involves excavators, bulldozers, compactor and spider excavators can safely resume."
The project was designed by Caltrans Design Division. Crews are installing soil nail walls, cast in drilled hole piles (CIDH), ground anchor tiebacks and sculpted shotcrete.
SGV has worked on several emergency projects, and its crews are experienced in dealing with complex problems and difficult terrain.
"The construction challenges include a remote location, difficult soil conditions and inclement weather," Bischoff said. "The work has been prolonged due to soil conditions prone to sinking and inclement weather. There are no utility issues."
The project is centered around day shifts due to the terrain's condition.
"Soil nail walls, CIDH, ground anchor tiebacks, PCC barriers [a plastic sheet placed between the base and concrete slab to prevent moisture from penetrating the concrete] and slab [sculpted shotcrete] are major elements of the work," Bischoff said.
The slopes, he added, vary, and the collapsed sections of roadways spanned approximately 200 ft., 80 ft. and 60 ft. New guardrails are being installed.
Several sections of the asphalt roads were built midway on the slopes which, at times, are clad with forested sections and bare rock. To a certain extent, the trees stabilize the soil.
The shoulder is placed alongside the slope's edge. The shoulders provide platforms for construction vehicles, including large excavators and drill rigs. One work site had the shoulder section washed away, which required crews to create a temporary work platform about 15-30 ft. below the road, which could be 50 ft. in width.
Photo courtesy of Caltrans
Just creating the nearly 130-ft. long platform required careful planning as a single mistake could have resulted in equipment falling. Before the equipment could operate on it, tests were conducted to confirm the stability.
When the site was deemed safe, material was placed to rebuild the section and, once it was level with the road, the new shoulder was installed.
In addition, the drainage system is based on water being collected along the edge of the shoulder and diverted into a prefabricated metal pipe about 70 ft. long to protect the slope below the road.
There also were sections of the slopes that had to be stabilized, which required work platforms so that anchors could be placed into the slope at intervals of 6-7 ft. In addition to the anchors, crews installed a retaining wall.
On some of those platforms, there were four pieces of equipment operating, including excavators, mini-dozers and drill rigs. This work was carefully executed as walls were placed when crews pressed forward.
Typical workdays have many SGV and subcontractor employees on-site. And, due to the remote location, SGV has on-site mechanics to handle everyday wear and tear issues and routine maintenance. The company buys and rents equipment from local and regional dealerships. CEG
