Photo courtesy of Caltrans
A Caterpillar 315 hydraulic excavator helps restore a road shoulder on State Route 33.
Operations continue on State Route (SR) 33 to repair the damage from a January 2023 landslide, with crews from R&R Demolition and Grading Corp. and three other general contractors making solid progress in Ventura to complete the emergency repairs, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
In April, Marc Bischoff, a Caltrans District 7 public information officer said, "Emergency repairs and traffic control will continue on State Route 33 between mile 14.35 ([near Cozy Dell Trailhead] and mile 44.13 [almost two miles north of Pine Mountain summit] in Los Padres National Forest at least through this summer.
Photo courtesy of Caltrans
"Approximately 32 miles of highway were closed for emergency repairs from Jan. 10 to Dec. 18, 2023, when one-lane alternating traffic control with solar-powered signals was implemented through seven construction zones.
"Outside of those six locations, one lane is open to traffic in each direction, as is normal," he added. "This section of SR-33 experienced extensive mudslides, rockslides, erosion and sections of collapsed roadway from extensive storms during the winter of 2022-2023. Additional rainstorms this past winter caused intermittent work stoppage. The one-lane alternating traffic control also slows the reconstruction process.
"There are still four retaining walls to be built and construction of the first wall at post mile 14.13 is under way. Slope and roadway repair and drainage installation continue at multiple locations. The estimated total construction cost for all repairs is $35 million."
The contractors are Staples Construction, Union Engineering, Granite Construction and R & R Demolition and Grading.
Bischoff noted that SR-33 is "still subject to temporary full closures depending on construction needs."
The work zone covers the area in Los Padres National Forest north of the city of Ojai. There are four emergency projects to repair damage to the highway and its slopes and embankments.
"Relentless storms from the winter of 2022/2023 caused excessive damage to a substantial portion of SR-33," Bischoff said. "The highway experienced extensive mudslides, rockslides, erosion to slopes and embankments and several sections of collapsed roadway. Three retaining walls [set with steel piles] are under construction. Slopes and embankments are under reconstruction at multiple locations. Some embankments required the construction of Rock Slope Protection using boulders weighing up to 6 tons each and many of the boulders were recycled from the slides.
"Some include the use of geogrid, a geosynthetic material used to reinforce and stabilize the soil and provide filtration," he added. "Some slopes require installation of elevated cable-mesh drapery systems. All guardrail within the closure has been replaced. Drains and culverts have been cleared and are also being replaced. 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."
Approximately 32 mi. of roadway were closed from Matilija Hot Springs Road to the Ozena Fire Station just south of Lockwood Valley Road from Jan. 10 until Dec. 18, 2023. The highway was reopened to the public that day, but emergency repairs continue and there are seven locations with one-way traffic control managed by solar-powered signals or flagging.
The traffic control, at the time, dealt with mile 14.35 (near Cozy Dell Trail), mile 22.48 (about three miles south of Rose Valley Road), miles 24.62 to 25.60 (starting about a mile south of Rose Valley Road), mile 26.34 (about ½ mile north of Rose Valley Road), mile 23.86 (just south of the chain control sign, mile 42.94 (near Pine Mountain summit) and mile 44.13 (almost 2 miles north of the summit).
"Work is expected to continue into November, although some construction locations may be completed sooner," Bischoff said.
Photo courtesy of Caltrans
Caltrans has secured $35 million in emergency funding for the project.
"Damage was so extensive and varied that it had to be divided into four separate sections with four separate contractors to complete it," Bischoff said.
Bischoff explained why the repairs were taking so long to complete.
"Members of the Caltrans Geotechnical Division had to review every section of highway in person and through drone aerial video to assess damage that continued to change and increase every time it rained," he said. "Then the Design Division had to create plans to repair every section of damage. The Environmental Division had to work to secure permits from five different state and federal agencies.
"Well over 2,000 truckloads of debris were removed. Some sections of roadway collapsed. Reparation of slopes and embankments is a slow and dangerous process that includes rock scalers and heavy equipment traversing steep inclines. Storms during the summer of 2023 also caused additional damage." CEG
Irwin Rapoport
A journalist who started his career at a weekly community newspaper, Irwin Rapoport has written about construction and architecture for more than 15 years, as well as a variety of other subjects, such as recycling, environmental issues, business supply chains, property development, pulp and paper, agriculture, solar power and energy, and education. Getting the story right and illustrating the hard work and professionalism that goes into completing road, bridge, and building projects is important to him. A key element of his construction articles is to provide readers with an opportunity to see how general contractors and departments of transportation complete their projects and address challenges so that lessons learned can be shared with a wider audience.
Rapoport has a BA in History and a Minor in Political Science from Concordia University. His hobbies include hiking, birding, cycling, reading, going to concerts and plays, hanging out with friends and family, and architecture. He is keen to one day write an MA thesis on military and economic planning by the Great Powers prior to the start of the First World War.
Read more from Irwin Rapoport here.
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