LOCATION: Watsonville, CA
The Project
Crews are currently working on a significant sidewalk repair project along Main Street (Highway 152) in Watsonville for Caltrans. Prompted by a land collapse at Struve Slough, this unfortunate event has resulted in substantial damage to the sidewalk, curb, and gutter infrastructure. Consequently, the sidewalk has been closed to both pedestrians and bicyclists for safety reasons.
The Caltrans initiative involves a comprehensive scope of work, including excavation, the installation of lightweight fill, paving, and the construction of new sidewalks, curbs, and gutters. Additionally, improvements to the drainage systems are part of the project to enhance the overall infrastructure resilience.
A key component of the repair efforts is the use of lightweight cellular concrete (LCC) as the fill material. LCC was chosen due to its ability to flow easily into the required spaces, providing effective stabilization while also expediting the construction timeline. LCC significantly reduces the burden on the existing subgrade and allows access to safe detours of vehicles, bicyclist, and pedestrians with little impact to the site thanks to its small equipment footprint.
Overall, this Caltrans project not only aims to restore safe pedestrian access but also enhances the resilience of the surrounding infrastructure.
