Horner & Shifrin served as the primary engineering consultant on the Route U Emergency Slide Repair project in Montgomery County, Missouri. After a catastrophic slope failure in May 2024 completely severed the roadway, H&S worked closely with MoDOT’s Northeast District to restore this vital transportation link for the community.

The project addressed three identified slide areas along Route U, with H&S providing comprehensive design services for a permanent geotechnical solution. With no viable local detour available—the shortest alternative route added over 43 minutes and 31 miles to travel times—the project carried significant urgency for local residents, school transportation, agricultural operations, and businesses.

Under emergency declaration conditions, Horner & Shifrin compressed what would typically be a year-long design process into just 80 days. The H&S team, consisting of seven engineers supported by six independent quality control reviewers, managed this accelerated timeline by overlapping traditionally sequential phases while maintaining strict adherence to MoDOT standards.

In collaboration with SCI Engineering and TREKK Design Group, H&S designed a comprehensive repair solution that included excavation of slide masses, reconstruction with engineered fill, installation of drainage features to intercept groundwater, and regrading to stabilize slopes. The project’s $1.6 million construction contract was awarded to Karrenbrock Construction, who began work in August 2024.

Throughout this emergency response, Horner & Shifrin maintained close coordination with all stakeholders to meet the November 2024 reopening deadline, helping restore connectivity before winter weather and the holiday travel season. The successful delivery of this challenging project demonstrated H&S’s capability to execute complex designs under compressed timeframes while prioritizing community needs and infrastructure resilience.

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