Foundations for California Highway 1 Pitkins Curve Bridge

Big Sur coastline where new Pitkins Curve Bridge is being built on CA Highway 1

Big Sur coastline where new Pitkins Curve Bridge is being built on CA Highway 1

On the Big Sur coatline, the Pitkins Curve area of California Highway 1 (the PCH) is undergoing some improvements to help alleviate landslides and roadway instability. National Driller magazine reports on the project in their January 2011 issue. The $29.4 million project involves building a bridge in some challenging terrain to eliminate the Pitkins Curve and building a rock shed at Rainrocks. Golden State Bridge, Inc. is using pipe piles drilled into rock to support a temporary trestle. Permanent bridge foundations are 60-in diameter drilled shafts about 68-feet deep. The pile cap will be post-tensioned onto the shafts. The 240-ft center span will be built by cantilevering out from each end with a closure pour for completion. [Source: National Driller. Image: National Driller]