No Easy Fix For Road Into Yosemite
FRESNO (AP) - Those who live in the mountains outside Yosemite National Park cherish the ever-changing landscape shaped by rushing water, ice and avalanches.
But since Volkwagen-size boulders buried the only all-weather highway into the park nearly five years ago, residents, tourism officials and transportation engineers have faced a serious conundrum about how to fix the road.
About 800 million tons of falling rocks and debris created a blockade so huge some tourists had to take hours-long detours to reach the valley.
Crews have since slapped up temporary bridges across the Merced River.
Now, the latest plans for a permanent passage run as high as $180 million. Options include tunneling through the rubble and building a long concrete bridge even planners say looks more suited to Los Angeles.
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