Hi Craig,
Good questions and they are ones that have been asked by others, but alas, I don't remember the answer! If you look on
the project blueprints, you can see two references that partially answer the question: "Recover as much of the original retaining wall rock as possible from avalanche area below road" and "excavate to lower grade of turnout to generate more of rock material if needed."
It sounds like an attempt to do the original as much as possible and add new material where/if needed.
As far as I recall, yes, it was the Italian stone masons who did the original work on these walls.
I can't imagine that they are trying to make it able to support a locomotive and train, but I know the express goal is to make vehicle travel possible to the west portal again.
Kurt
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/01/2022 10:17AM by Kurt Maechner.