Catastrophic storms rolled through California’s Riverside County on Valentine’s Day 2019, severely damaging sections of Highways 74 and 243. The most direct access to the scenic mountain community of Idyllwild was cut off. Highway 74 collapsed in several places along a 15-mile segment. On a six-mile stretch of Highway 243, portions were washed out and an entire section had given way, slipping down the side of the mountain.
Ames mobilized to the site immediately. Working without project plans, the Ames team coordinated with project owner Caltrans to move forward with repairs, open the roadway to traffic, and get designs in place to rebuild the highways. In addition to clearing debris, the emergency work included rebuilding slopes and roadbeds, scaling rock, replacing storm drains, repaving roads, and reinstalling guardrails and signage.
By mid-March, Ames crews had repaired enough of Highway 74 to permit highway traffic under limited escort. By August, round-the-clock escorts were available.
The northern half of Highway 243 remained largely inaccessible during reconstruction of the collapsed lanes. Work progressed so that the highway could open for use with a pilot car by the spring of 2020. However, an aggressive schedule and favorable weather conditions helped accelerate repairs. On November 1, 2019—nearly eight months after storms tore it apart—Highway 243 reopened.
Learn more:
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Markets: Transportation, Roadways
Location: Riverside County, California
Client: Caltrans
Completed: June 2021
Services:
- Slope/embankment repair
- Rock excavation
- Aggregate placement
- Storm drain
- Paving
- Traffic control
- Headwalls
- Gabion basket retaining walls
