Projects
Letchworth Roadway
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In the spring of 2005, the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) noticed that trees and vegetation bordering a section of road along the Letchworth Gorge had disappeared. This alerted the OPHRP to the occurrence of erosion of the gorge beneath the roadway. The OPRHP retained McMahon & Mann, through a term agreement with TVGA Consultants (TVGA), to evaluate the condition of the gorge face beneath the road. McMahon & Mann representatives descended into the gorge and examined the gorge face beneath this section of the road. We found that a section of the rock face and a retaining wall built in the 1930’s had fallen into the gorge undermining the road and threatening its stability.
McMahon & Mann mapped the gorge face and the rock structure and TVGA completed a laser survey of the gorge face. Using this information, we developed a plan to stabilize this section of the gorge. The plan included scaling loose debris from the rock face and using shotcrete, rock anchors, rock nails and drains to stabilize it. Janod Inc. completed the work under an emergency contract in the fall of 2005. Due to access restrictions, all of the work had to be completed by suspending crews and equipment from ropes. The above photograph shows the rock face with the shotcrete partially placed and Janod Inc. preparing to drill holes for the rock anchors.