Tunneling through
Caltrans recently finished cleaning the freeway tunnels of L.A. County (the McClure Tunnel in Santa Monica at left). It's the first cleaning since 2001, and Inside Seven says it is a more complex job than you might think:
The crew uses equipment specifically designed for this purpose: a truck with a five-foot- tall articulated arm that spins at high speed against a tunnel wall while spraying hot, soapy water. This vehicle is followed by a large tanker truck of rinse water. Measures to ensure the water does not escape into drains are scrupulously followed. Before the operation begins, the tunnels are sealed off at the entrance and exit. A huge vacuum at one end sucks up all the water. “The equipment is pretty cool,” says Maintenance Deputy Dan Freeman. “It moves about as fast as you can walk.”
great! Now for their next job: subcontract to the City of L.A. to clean and repair the 2nd street tunnel downtown.
Posted by: gregory kay | May 17, 2007 at 05:10 PM