SR 1 Storm Damage near Muir Woods

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http://abc7news.com/traffic/caltrans-working-non-stop-to-open-section-of-hwy-1/488860/

Caltrans is hard at work repairing part Highway 1 that connects Mill Valley to the Marin County Coast, a section that's been closed since the big Bay Area storm last month.

Contractors are working around the clock all in hopes of reopening the road by next month.

"We're working seven days a week from dawn 'til dusk, 16 hour days," Bob Haus, Caltrans spokesman said.

"It wasn't as if this was the result of several days of rain. This happened all at once," Haus added.

Engineers are calling the damage a slipout, where the dirt slips out from under the road.

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_27381976/crews-labor-fix-highway-1-near-muir-beach

The Dec. 11 storm that flooded Marin wreaked havoc on the coastal highway that often has issues staying in one piece during heavy rains. During the storm, about 60 feet of earth under Highway 1 near Muir Beach at mile marker 4.1 washed away.

The roughly $1 million repair requires construction of a retaining wall that is supported by steel piles. A series of shafts have been drilled into the ground along the length of the wall. The steel beams are then placed into the shafts and backfilled with concrete. Timber lagging is installed between the steel beams to create the wall, which is then backfilled with soils or aggregate. The final step is repaving the road.

The closure has been a headache for people in the area. It has sent travelers heading to Stinson Beach and beyond onto the Panoramic Highway until they reach Highway 1. Those heading for Muir Beach are taking the Panoramic Highway to Frank Valley/Lower Muir Woods Road, but that is causing problems as local and tourist traffic – including large tour buses – are mixing and creating backups and conflicts with pedestrians.