Pavement of Auto Tour Route

This project rehabilitated the 3.1-mile long Auto Tour Route at Manzanar National Historic Site. The route generally follows the perimeter of the camp and was originally treated with a tar and gravel macadam surface in 1942. It has since been pulverized and graded to facilitate visitor access, as the original surface was in disrepair. Surface aggregate improvements were completed in 2008 by the Death Valley road crew. The rehabilitated road maintained the historic grid of straight lines and 90 degrees turns. To be compatible with the historic look of the World War II macadam pavement, the road was paved at a width of 15’ with hot mix asphalt and then chip sealed. The presence of sensitive cultural resources near the project area were identified by the NPS during the scoping and preliminary design process. The geometric and pavement design will accommodate large vehicles such as tour buses and recreational vehicles. Several areas along the route have been subject to storm water damage. Project alternatives include armoring treatments, minor regrading or other storm drainage solutions to minimize damage to the road in the future.

Services Provided by HECO Engineers:

• Project management
• Landscape architecture
• Historic preservation
• Condition assessment