EVENT DETAIL

The Development of the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania began in 1965 with the first race on the 2½-mile track being held in 1971. The track is unique on the Indy Car and NASCAR circuits featuring a three turn design, with each individual turn mimicking the curve radius and banking of other important racing tracks around the country. Turn 2, modeled after the 8-degree banked turns at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, had two tunnels constructed beneath the race track, providing vehicular access to the infield. During the 1980s, both tunnels displayed interior deformation and were internally braced. However, the added bracing significantly reduced the vertical clearance within the tunnels, hampering vehicular access to the infield. Towards the end of the 2013 racing season, a truck impacted the last brace within the outbound tunnel, causing significant deformation of the tunnel in this location. The track owners decided rehabilitation of the tunnels was needed to improve infield access by replacing the interior bracing with an alternate solution while improving the aesthetics of the tunnel entrances.

This presentation will discuss the design and construction of the soil nail reinforcement used to temporarily support the tunnels while the interior bracing was removed and the design and construction of the permanent concrete shells that would serve to support the overlying race track. The design and construction of the tunnel entrances will also be discussed, which featured both permanent soils nails and mechanically stabilized earth systems to support the sculpted shotcrete fascia.