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Show ? : y nv-v.-'.rv. y- Gap being blasted through Comb Ridge on Utah Highway 95. The Mighty Gap Blasted Through Comb Ridge, 0-95 Work Progresses There By C. Sharp Workmen are blasting a ;ap 250 feet deep and 1,300 eet long to provide a sa'.a cad down San Juan County's rteep Comb Ridge. They are using the same I1' ire-split blasting techniques ollowed in making the great :ut through the San Rafael teef east of Green River on -70 in order to preserve cenic beauty of the area. Nearly a million cubic ards of stone are being tak-n tak-n out and will be used as fill )r the new road. In a single blast just before unset January 19, 10 tons f explosives were detonated. cut will be 250 feet deep when completed com-pleted by construction crews now This was the largest blast of the project and it took out 30 feet in the big cut bringing bring-ing it to within 100 feet of its final elevation. Strong Co., Springville, is the contractor for the 2.8 mile section from Butler Wash to Comb Wash. After negotiating the gap the new section of U-95 will, follow a reasonable grade to the bottom of Comb Wash. This will eliminate steep switchbacks in the old section sec-tion which frightened many motorists. Nielson's, Inc., Dolores, Co), recently was awarded the 1,60 9,905 contract for paving pav-ing the roadbed being laid by Strong and for building six more miles of complete roadway. The eight mile plus section is to be completed late this year. It will provide easy access ac-cess to Lake Powell and other oth-er scenic areas westerly from Blanding including U-24 U-24 at Hanksville which extends ex-tends through Capitol Reef National Park to Richfield. working on the project. |