The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has approved a $3 million project to repair a section of Interstate 15 at Cajon Pass where 200 feet of a southbound lane collapsed Feb. 17 during a severe storm.
Caltrans says a dry creek bed running beside the interstate overflowed and washed out the rock slope protection below the roadbed, LasVegasNow.com reports.
Caltrans told the news agency that a fire engine was in the lane when it collapsed and it fell into the wash. Fire officials tweeted that there were 50 vehicles in the water, and that seven of them were completely submerged.
According to the news agency, Caltrans District 8 Director John Bulinski signed a Director’s Order Feb. 18, to begin emergency repairs. The $3 million project was awarded to Skanska, Inc., and work began Saturday night at 9:00 p.m.
Only one lane was open Saturday night from SR 138 to Cleghorn Rd. while a contractor restriped the highway to allow a longer period of time for a permanent repair to be done. Once all four lanes are open repair work will begin behind k-rail to repair the fallen roadbed and damaged slope.
