Work continues on flooded 395

Friday, May 16, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

Some 10 miles of the highway was torn up Jan. 2 when the Walker River raged over its banks with enough force to cause what scientists call "geologic change" in the narrow canyon around Walker, Calif.

About four months of work and $15 million have rebuilt the road to the point that repaving is expected to begin next week.

As many as 70 bulldozers and other pieces of equipment were in use from time to time to move up to 1 million cubic yards of dirt and rock, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.

"Where the river wanted to go was where it went, and in some areas the road was in the way," said Carl Haack, the resident engineer for the California Department of Transportation. "It really ripped the hell out of this place."

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