Dangerous cliffs

[tolbs17]

Here and pretty much in the Great Smoky Mountains. I fear a rockslide will happen! I wonder of when they will tear it down.

I-40
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aM4g6N1EsLh9wqfs7

[Max Rockatansky]

That's kind of lame, anything on an Interstate is too pedestrian for a "dangerous cliff."  

Try Horseshoe Bend along CA 180 in the Kings River Canyon in Sequoia National Forest.  Two cars drove off the cliff there a couple years ago independent of each other into the River 500 feet below, killed four people. 

Horseshoe Bend can be found in Photo 50 and Photos 191-215 in the blog below:

https://www.gribblenation.org/2018/01/california-state-route-180-east-of.html?m=1

Here is an article about the recovery efforts of the bodies in one of the cars.  The second car was found during these attempts, this car I don't believe was ever removed from the Kings River:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bodies-recovered-are-believed-to-be-thai-exchange-students/

[thspfc]

All cliffs near major highways are controlled and monitored. In Colorado they put up huge nets at a lot of them, not sure how many other states do that.

[Dirt Roads]

Here and pretty much in the Great Smoky Mountains. I fear a rockslide will happen! I wonder of when they will tear it down.

I-40
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aM4g6N1EsLh9wqfs7

That's kind of lame, anything on an Interstate is too pedestrian for a "dangerous cliff."  

This location is not so bad, but just a mile west of here is the beginning of that difficult section of I-40 that is subject to frequent slides and occasional closures, sometimes closing all four lanes for several weeks.  It is my impression that the I-40 descent down the Pigeon River is the worst section of "Falling Rock" in the entire nation.

[Max Rockatansky]

Here and pretty much in the Great Smoky Mountains. I fear a rockslide will happen! I wonder of when they will tear it down.

I-40
https://maps.app.goo.gl/aM4g6N1EsLh9wqfs7

That's kind of lame, anything on an Interstate is too pedestrian for a "dangerous cliff."  

This location is not so bad, but just a mile west of here is the beginning of that difficult section of I-40 that is subject to frequent slides and occasional closures, sometimes closing all four lanes for several weeks.  It is my impression that the I-40 descent down the Pigeon River is the worst section of "Falling Rock" in the entire nation.

I get that rock can fall on Interstates.  But if we are trying to compile an actual quality dangerous cliff list then freeways just aren't going to stack up compared to more conventional roads.

[1995hoo]

tolbs17, haven't you ever driven on a highway with a "Falling Rocks" (or "Watch for Falling Rocks") sign? Those signs are extremely common and they're not referring to an Indian warrior.

With that said, I've seen fences combined with nets of the sort thspfc mentions, although off the top of my head no particular such location is coming to mind right now.

[tolbs17]

tolbs17, haven't you ever driven on a highway with a "Falling Rocks" (or "Watch for Falling Rocks") sign? Those signs are extremely common and they're not referring to an Indian warrior.

With that said, I've seen fences combined with nets of the sort thspfc mentions, although off the top of my head no particular such location is coming to mind right now.

No I have not. But yes, there are many signs of those posted in areas like those.

[Max Rockatansky]

Blackrock Road (yes, it is spelled correct) has an interesting cliff-strewn alignment above Balch Camp, CA on the North Fork Kings River Canyon.  If two vehicles encounter each other traveling different directions someone has to back up.  I find it amusing that PG&E still has a company town (Balch Park) with work staff that drives Blackrock everyday.  I don't believe the Google Car driver went above Balch Camp and it's fairly easy to see why:

https://flic.kr/p/SiKzQT

https://flic.kr/p/SiKzJk

https://flic.kr/p/SiKyRP

https://flic.kr/p/RJ13Lh

https://flic.kr/p/RJ13vs

[oscar]

With that said, I've seen fences combined with nets of the sort thspfc mentions, although off the top of my head no particular such location is coming to mind right now.

One such example is along HI 83 northeast of Haleiwa. The highway was slightly realigned away from the cliff, but the ocean was too close to prevent rocks from falling on the highway. The cliff also was riddled with native Hawaiian burial caves, and had remnants of an ancient temple on the top of the cliff, so cutting back the cliff wasn't an option either. Hawaii DOT settled for a really strong rockfall fence.

For the other kind of cliff under discussion here, where the highway is on top of a steep cliff, see some photos of the county-owned part of the Piilani Highway on the east end of Maui. Some parts offer a double whammy, with the cliff above the highway dropping pebbles on passing vehicles (the roof of my rental truck got dinged by one), but there's no room to drive farther away from that cliff without risking driving off the cliff on the other side into the ocean.