A major landslide at the Pali Tunnels meant emergency response for slope scaling and debris clean up, erosion control fencing, rock fall impact netting and a tunnel structure extension. The rock fall tunnel included 3 drill shafts, post-tension retaining walls with rock anchor tie-backs, 20 precast concrete roof panels, precast concrete portal façade, erosion absorbing roof topping, shotcrete and CLSM backfill/erosion control, drainage improvements and civil roadway and safety improvements.

Routine maintenance for highway resurfacing. Safety improvement – concrete median barriers to replace metal guardrail, higher/solid barrier to minimize opposing traffic headlights, high friction surface treatment, upgrade highway lighting system to meet current standards and energy efficiency.

Project partnering and collaboration, clear lines of communication and appreciation of everyone’s roles, along with close coordination of stakeholders have been instrumental to the project’s momentum.
At the time of project award, a new City & County sewer project within the project limits, was also scheduled for construction but unknown to the project team. Heavy coordination to incorporate this work and let the sewer project meet the consent decree completion date required change order plans to allow workspace for the sewer project and reprioritizing of activities to demobilize our scope and allow commencement of the sewer work. The use of drones facilitated investigation of difficult terrain/slopes, construction inspections and photo documentations and assisted with assessing field conditions and making adjustments to plans.
The February 2019 landslide at the Pali Tunnel that completely closed the highway required emergency slope stabilization and permanent tunnel improvements. The resultant closures and contraflow schedules inadvertently allowed the contractor to make up delays and resolved scheduling and traffic control issues that would not have otherwise been possible.

Completing the emergency work and reopening the highway was of the highest priority. The contractor worked days, nights and weekends for almost a year. This effort mandated extensive construction management, flexibility and sacrifices from the entire team.