Boulder 3; Caltrans 1 Progress on eliminating Highway 243 blockage

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Caltrans is working to reduce the boulder on Hwy 243 in order to move it and open the roadway.
Caltrans is working to reduce the boulder on Hwy 243 in order to move it and open the roadway.

While the boulder that has closed Highway 243 between Pine Cove and Idyllwild since Sunday night maintains its position, Caltrans is making progress today.

With a new drill for its hydraulic breaker, Caltrans is chipping away at the boulder and there is hope it can be moved late today — but no official announcement yet.

This is a close game, but Caltrans’ experience should overtake its younger and muscular opponent. Besides breaking the drill, the boulder significantly damaged a front-end loader when Caltrans tried to move it.

The rear wheels were damaged Tuesday when this front end loader tried to move the Hwy 243 boulder
The rear wheels were damaged Tuesday when this front-end loader tried to move the Highway 243 boulder
The result of Wednesday work to demolish the boulder.
The result of Wednesday work to demolish the boulder.
This is what boulder looked like Monday morning.
This is what boulder looked like Monday morning.

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