Tools of the trade
Steep mountain slopes present a challenge to engineers and work crews trying to repair a damaged roadbed. Design strategies include building bridges and constructing retaining walls. Efficiency, costs and the demands of each location influence the final decision. Along Angeles Crest Highway, three strategies were employed at the six sites where the roadbed was undermined by last winter’s storms.
Flash required
Sources: CalTrans, Google Earth, Digital Globe, U.S. Geological Survey, ESRI, TeleAtlas. Digital images from Google Earth
Graphics reporting by Thomas Curwen; interactive by Lorena Iñiguez Elebee
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