Landslide Technology: U.S. Highway 191 Realignment, Moab, Utah Entailed Preliminary Recommendations for Rock Cut Slope Design, Embankment Dimensions, Rock Slope Stability, and Rockfall Modeling

Highway rock cut and fallout design

Rockfall hazard assessment

Statistical mapping and kinematic analyses

US Highway 191 between Crescent Junction and Moab, Utah carries large volumes of traffic to nearby Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. Landslide Technology worked with the Utah Department of Transportation to provide preliminary geotechnical recommendations for widening a 7-mile segment of US 191 near the main entrance of Arches National Park. Rock cuts will primarily be cut in the sandstone of the Permian Cutler Formation and in the interbedded limestones to arkosic sandstones of the Pennsylvanian Upper Hermosa deposits (formerly known as the Honaker Trail Formation). The work that Landslide Technology performed included:

Aerial photo interpretation;
Local geology and seismicity;
Geotechnical reconnaissance along the existing roadway;
Statistical rock mapping and kinematic analyses for rock cut slope design;
Evaluating the rockfall potential from the tall cliffs adjoining the roadway, including mitigation options;
Stability evaluation of a 50-foot deep railroad rock through-cut and the potential effects of nearby blasting;
Preliminary groundwater and surface water evaluation;
Laboratory testing;
Preliminary geotechnical recommendations for soil and rock cut slopes, embankment fills, and retaining walls; and
Project constructibility and conceptual costs.