Few things in this world are more exciting to watch than organized, controlled destruction.
Wednesday afternoon, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation detonated a series of small charges on a rock face along Interstate 35 in the Arbuckle Mountains. The project was postponed a day due to heavy rainfall across the state on Tuesday.
Colorado-based GeoStabilization International received an $870,000 contract to stabilize the rock formation using small charges and other mechanical methods. Once the debris is gone, they'll place rock bolts through the formation. Oklahoma-based Silver Star Construction received a $574,000 contract to haul away roughly 14,000 tons of debris.
Heavy rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill caused a rockslide along I-35 near Turner Falls on June 18. Motorists were injured by debris falling from the rock face on the eastern side of the highway’s northbound lanes.
ODOT says it will likely be several months before the debris is removed and the rock formation is fully stabilized. Traffic has been diverted to the southbound side of the highway and is down to one lane in each direction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2OGXSVf7Qs
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