Coromandel MP Scott Simpson says a lack of decisive plan from Waka Kotahi to get SH25A reopened continues to frustrate and anger local residents and visitors.

Meanwhile, Waka Kotahi says they are in the process deciding between three proposed solutions as quickly as possible.

The highway is one of the main routes to the Thames-Coromandel region. It was closed in January after the formation of deep cracks and slips following ex-Cyclone Hale.

It has been three months since the Kopu-Hikuai highway closed, but we still have no idea when the road will be reopened, says Simpson.

People have been patient, but the lack of decision, let alone a start on the work to get the road re-opened is deeply concerning."

Coromandel MP Scott Simpson. File Photo.

NZTA are meant to be making an announcement about SH25A in May, but three months has been far too long to wait and is indicative of the lack of urgency to fix SH25A.

Our communities are resilient, but I have spoken to many businesses who are at their breaking point. Everyone is suffering and we desperately need to some positive action.

Any solution that does not get the Kopu-Hikuai reopened by Christmas simply is not good enough, because the prospect of a fourth devastating summer for our region is too awful to contemplate.

Waka Kotahi agrees the work to repair SH25A is a high priority.

Damage to SH25A in Coromandel. Photo: Tom Taylor/RNZ.

Following the devasting impacts of multiple storm events this year, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is focused on restoring vital access to the Coromandel as soon as possible, says a Waka Kotahi spokesperson.

Beyond the initial emergency response, our focus also includes long-term solutions so that State Highway 25 and SH25A remain resilient.

We acknowledge that Coromandel residents, businesses and visitors are very concerned about how long it will take to rebuild SH25A. While SH25A is closed, Waka Kotahi is acutely aware of the sacrifices locals, businesses and communities are having to make. The inaccessibility, extra travel time, increased travel costs, access to healthcare, impacts to freight, businesses, tourism and day-to-day life are front of mind for everyone working on this project.

We have a dedicated team of project managers and consulting engineers focused on delivering a robust solution that can be built as quickly as possible. This team is actively working through three options for a long-term solution. Each one is being investigated in parallel so we can go as quickly as possible, and readily move to the preferred options detailed design and construction. The right option can only be confirmed when the risks, costs, form and time required to build each option have been assessed.

The critical task of geotechnical investigations was completed earlier this month and we are now analysing the information to identify the optimum solution that enables the route to be open as soon as possible.

Option 1 Bypass

The geotechnical information gathered showed a northern bypass option, shifting the road well away from the slip face, would need substantial digging out and removing around 300 to 400,000m3 of soft soils off site before any work on building a road could start. There are other complexities to be factored in this option, including ecological impacts and lack of sites in the Coromandel to take the soil material.

"A bypass closer to the slip face is another option. It would bring in a few more corners into the new road alignment and involve rebuilding an embankment with a mixture of cut into the banks above and filling over the slip below with rock fill.

"The old slip material both new and historic layers would also have to be removed and doing this task in winter would have to be factored into the programme. The design, factors of safety of the stability of the slopes above, and safety and ecological impact of the proposed road re-alignment are currently being assessed."

Option 2 Bridge

"At this stage, the information and advice gathered so far is showing that a steel bridge (rather than a bridge with concrete beams) could be the fastest to construct.

"We are looking for time saving options such as precast deck elements and long beams that are not too heavy to reduce the number of time-consuming piles to be installed.

"The smaller the crane we need to lift the beams the better; as building a stable crane platform on weak soil, and forming an access to them, will be time consuming."

Option 3 Retaining wall

"Development of the retaining wall option to re-form the road embankment is well underway in parallel. The soils were tested on Monday 17 April 2023 to better understand the ground conditions this will be key in deciding if rebuilding embankments are viable options or not.

"All three options have varying challenges which are being weighed up, and Waka Kotahi is committed to delivering a solution as quickly as possible. Expediting delivery will be given a high weighting for the option selection. The options assessment will be completed and a preferred option confirmed in May."

See the article here:
Lack of SH25A reopening work concerning - MP - The Bay's News ... - SunLive

Two school-related budget overrides that together would add about $106 per year to the average tax bill are among the decisions voters will take up as they head to Brewster's annual town meeting next week.

Other items include proposals to ban the sale of "nip" bottles in town, to ban food establishments from using plastic takeout ware, to turn over control of Wing Island to the Conservation Commission, and to require the Select Board to seek town meeting approval for any significant projects related to town land.

Town meeting convenes at 6 p.m. on May 1 at the Stony Brook Elementary School, 384 Underpass Road, Brewster. Check-in begins at 5 p.m.

In all, there are 27 items in the lineup, including a $25.3 million town operating budget, a 4.2% increase.

Here are some of the highlights.

Wing Island On Wing Island question, Brewster residents choose nature. What happens next?

For Stony Brook and Eddy elementary schools, voters will consider an $11.1 million operating budget, a combined increase of 5.5% driven primarily by significant increases in special education expenses.

Speaking at a forum on April 18 to review the meeting agenda items available for viewing on the town website Town Manager Peter Lombardi said the town can support a $10.76 million operating budget within the levy limit, but an operating override of $316,878 would be needed to fully fund the requested budget.

An override proposal would need approval both at town meeting and at the May 16 town election. If OK'd, it would add 6 cents per $1,000 of valuation to the tax rate, resulting in a permanent increase of about $35 to the average property tax bill, based on an average home valuation of about $636,000.

Nauset Regional High School renovations Nauset High rebuild bids were $20M over budget

A second override proposal would support the Nauset Regional High School budget. Without an override, the requested school assessment for Brewster is $12.7 million plus a $2.19 million debt assessment for the ongoing school renovation project, or $15.5 million with an override.

The school's overall operating budget request reflects a 7.7% increase, driven primarily by higher special education costs, and increased costs associated with school choice and charter school tuitions and transportation.

As with the local school budget, Lombardi said the town can only fund 4% of the proposed budget increase within the levy limit. A $648,000 override is needed fully to fund the requested budget. If approved, the override would add 11 cents per $1,000 to the tax rate, resulting in a permanent increase of about $71 for the average taxpayer.

Other district towns Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet are also slated to consider overrides in support of the Nauset school budget.

Cannabis shops on Cape Where's the money? Mass. pot shops paid towns millions. The money trail is foggy.

Voters will consider a number of capital and special projects. Among the highlights is a $200,000 plan for improvements at the Stony Brook Mill, paid for with free cash.

The project includes repairs to the historic retaining wall that supports the headrace pond. Also included are improvements to the fish weirs north of Stony Brook Road, ultimately to make it easier and safer for the river herring to make their way upstream during their annual spawning migration.

House for sale in Wellfleet "Rare, rare, rare." Pond front Wellfleet home hits market at $2.195M

Wing Island will once again take the spotlight with the Select Board looking for approval to petition the state legislature to transfer care and control of the property to the town Conservation Commission.

The request is in answer to a vote taken at a special town meeting in March to give over the land to conservation and to clarify the land's designated uses from public bathing and recreational to conservation and open space.

The town's attorney gave an opinion that, since Wing Island is protected under Article 97 of the state constitution, transferring control requires a special act of the legislature.

There are also two citizen petitions inspired by the Wing Island discussion, which stirred up controversy because of proposed boardwalk plans many feared would bring too much traffic to the barrier island and surrounding saltmarsh.

Cape High School Swimming All-Scholastic A team of state champs and record setters

One petition proposes a bylaw requiring town meeting approval before the town can develop, improve or alter land under the town's care, no matter what the funding source the proposal applies only to projects exceeding $100,000. Presently, the town can undertake projects without a town meeting vote as long as funds come from gifts or grants.

The other petition proposes a bylaw requiring any anonymous gifts to the town be accompanied by "full disclosureof the terms and conditions of anonymous gifts so that the voters have the benefit of complete disclosure and transparency."

Proponents note the proposal is related to the previously proposed development of a boardwalk to Wing Island, "driven by an anonymous gift to the Brewster Conservation Trust, which it in turn pledged to the Town of Brewster for the construction of a boardwalk to be named after the anonymous donor after it was built."

While the donation offer was withdrawn, the proponents argue that the matter "raised concerns about anonymous donations driving town policy and actions."

Voters will also deliberate on banning the sale of miniature single use containers for alcoholic beverages so-called "nip" bottles, which are not recyclable.

Last year, the town said, Beautify Brewster volunteers collected 2,767 nip bottles, in one day, along some Brewster streets.

Similar bans have been adopted in other communities, including Falmouth and Wareham, and were "found to be lawful by the Massachusetts Attorney General," according to the town.

Earlier this month Falmouth town meeting 2nd night: Plastic ban decision, multimillion dollar sewer projects

Another citizens' petition proposes a bylaw to ban single-use, plastic takeout containers and utensils inBrewster.

The measure developed by Cape Cod environmental advocacy groupSustainable Practices would prohibit food establishments from dispensing prepared foods to customers in disposable containers made of plastic and bar them from providing plastic utensils.

The same bylaw has been submitted to Eastham,HarwichandSandwich, and was also discussed at both Provincetown's and Falmouth's town meetings. Provincetown indefinitely postponed the proposal "in order for the petitioner to work with local businesses to see how it could be enacted," according to Provincetown Select Board member Leslie Sandberg.

Falmouth town meeting directed town administration to form a committee to give the issue further study, create a revised proposal and return for a decision in the fall.

Heather McCarron writes about climate change, environment, energy, science and the natural world. Reach her at hmccarron@capecodonline.com, or follow her on Twitter @HMcCarron_CCT.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible.If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription.Here are our subscription plans.

Read more:
Brewster Town Meeting: School overrides, plastic ban, Wing Island - Cape Cod Times

[ Bengia Ajum ]

ITANAGAR, 28 Apr: For the first time in Arunachal Pradesh, a new technology is being used on the Papu-Yupia-Hoj-Potin stretch of NH 713 A and NH 13 for slope stabilisation in landslide-prone areas by strengthening the soil using ground improvement technology.

The ministry of road transport & highways (MoRTH) floated the tender for the project with the aim of bringing about a permanent solution to the slip zones in the Papu-Yupia-Hoj-Potin stretch of NH 713 A and NH 13 at km 31 (Hoj market), km 38.300 (Yabi village), km 39 (waterfall), km 39.700 (Appa Crusher) and km 40.300 (crusher point).

The work is being executed by the state PWD highway. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 63.02 crores.

All five locations where the project is being implemented are known for constant landslides and blockages during the monsoon season. New Delhi-based Spar Geo Infra Pvt Ltd, which specialises in geo-engineering projects for designing and executing critical landslide zones using slope stabilisation technology, is executing the project.

The work is underway on a war footing on the ground. The state PWD highway department is monitoring the project jointly with the MoRTH.

This technology is being used for the first time under the NH section in Arunachal. The main purpose of executing this project is to stabilise the slopes and provide a proper drainage system to protect it from landslides, and to reduce entry of water in order to control the groundwater level, informed an official of Spar Geo Infra Pvt Ltd.

He further said that techniques used for the project include implementation of pre-stressed anchors, rock bolts, soil nailing with different types of mesh, reinforced earth wall, geo-synthetic reinforcement, retaining wall, etc, as per design.

The work on the project started in November 2022. We are working in five different locations in between Hoj market and Appa Crusher. The expected time schedule for completion of the project is 24 months, and we are confident of completing it on time, the official added.

View post:
New tech being used for slope stabilisation of few portions of NH - The Arunachal Times

Sure, retaining walls look like simple stacked stone, block, or timber. But in fact, theyre carefully engineered systems that wage an ongoing battle with gravity. They restrain tons of saturated soil that would otherwise slump and slide away from a foundation or damage the surrounding landscape.

These handsome barriers also make inviting spots to sit, and can increase usable yard space by terracing sloped properties, something that is increasingly important as flat home sites become ever more scarce in many regions.

Along with sloped landscapes where water runoff causes hillside erosion, ideal locations for a retaining wall system include spots downhill from soil fault lines and where the downhill side of a foundation is losing supporting soil or its uphill side is under pressure from sliding soil.

If your property needs a retaining wall, or if the one you have is failing, follow our guide on how to build a retaining wall or hire a pro. We also review the four most common types below: timber, interlocking blocks, stacked stone, brick or block, and concrete.

Although retaining walls are simple structures, a casual check around your neighborhood will reveal lots of existing walls that are bulging, cracked, or leaning. Thats because most residential retaining walls have poor drainage, and many arent built to handle the hillside theyre supposed to hold back.

Even small retaining walls have to contain enormous loads. A 4-foot-high, 15-foot-long wall could be holding back as much as 20 tons of saturated soil. Double the wall height to 8 feet, and you would need a wall thats eight times stronger to do the same job.

With forces like these in play, you should limit your retaining wall efforts to walls under 4 feet tall (3 feet for mortarless stone). If you need a taller wall, consider step-terracing the lot with two walls half as big, or call in a landscape architect or structural engineer for the design work (have the architect or engineer inspect the site thoroughly) and experienced builders for the installation.

If you have your retaining wall built, figure about $15 per square face foot for a timber wall, $20 for an interlocking-block system or poured concrete, and $25 for a natural-stone wall. Preparing a troublesome siteone that includes clay soil or a natural spring, for examplecan raise costs substantially. Add 10 percent or so if you hire a landscape architect or engineer. But shop around; some landscape firms do the design work for free if they do the installation.

Poor drainage resulting in saturated soil and frost heaving is the main cause of failure. Thats why all strong retaining walls begin with landscape fabric, backfill, and 4-inch perforated drainpipe.

The depth you need to excavate depends on frost depth as well as the wall and soil type. Mortared or concrete walls in heavy-frost areas require footings dug below the frost line. Nonmortared walls should be built on a gravel-filled trench dug below frost line. If you live where it doesnt freeze and your soil drains well, you may be able to just scrape away topsoil to form a base for nonmortared walls.

Before adding gravel, lay down enough landscape fabric to contain the new gravel. Form the fabric into a large C shape, with the open mouth of the C facing downhill. The fabric should wrap around and create a border between the gravel and topsoil to keep sediment from clogging the gravel and drainpipe.

Replace native soil with 3/4-minus gravel (no stones under 3/4 inch in diameter) or bank-run gravel (washed stones 1/4 inch to 6 inches in diameter). Shovel at least a 4-inch layer of gravel onto the landscape fabric. Grade this layer so it slopes 1 inch for every 4 feet, allowing water to drain away. Then lay in 4-inch perforated PVC drainpipe at the base of the wall and cover it with gravel.

Shovel in backfill as you build the wall, one tier at a time. Dont add all the backfill at the endit wont compact thoroughly. Tamp down the gravel as you go with a heavy hand tamper. Behind the top tier of the wall, add 6 inches of topsoil and lightly compact it.

All retaining walls should lean into the hill 1 inch for every 12 inches of height. Timber walls 4 feet or higher should be tied to the hillside with deadmen anchors (6-foot-long, T-shaped tiebacks buried in the hillside) attached to the wall every 8 feet, extending 6 feet back to a 2-foot-wide T-bar.

Deadmen are not included in some interlocking-block systems if the design allows backfill to secure the blocks individually in place. Still others require geo-grid, weblike tiebacks that get buried in the backfill. Check the manufacturers literature.

A final heads-up on masonry wallsconcrete blocks chip and crack easily. Carefully inspect the blocks upon delivery, and dont be shy about returning damaged blocks for credit.

Upside: Strong. Well-designed and properly drained and backfilled, concrete walls rarely fail.

Downside: Bare concrete isnt particularly attractive. It can be veneered with masonry, or special forms can be used that embed decorative designs in the finished wall. Also, if a wall fails, patching may not be possible and removal is costly. Walls over a few feet high should be formed and poured by a pro unless youve had experience with vertical pours.

Cost: Around $16 to $20 per square face foot installed.

Remember:

Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage, and backfill. The footing should be below frost depth or on well-drained gravel that reaches this level. Use 3/4-inch ply and 2-by-4 bracing to form the wall. And install #4 rebar wired in 12-inch grids for added strength. Use mechanical vibration or strike the forms with a rubber mallet every 6 inches when concrete is wet for a smooth finished face.

Upside: Only moderately challenging to build by yourself up to 4 feet high. If an engineer has designed the wall, located the deadmen, and specified the backfill and drainage, you can install an even taller wall yourself.

Downside: Not as long-lived as masonry. Making square cuts is challenging. Also, components are heavy and hard to manage alone. Plan on about three days to build a wall 4 feet tall by 15 feet long.

Cost: $10 to $15 per square face foot installed, depending on your regionhigher if extensive excavation, soil prep, and backfilling are needed.

Remember:

Use 8-foot-long, 66-inch pressure-treated wood designated For Ground Contact, and have all materials delivered. Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage and backfill. All timber walls require deadmen every 4 feet at midwall height or higher. Pin the first tier of timbers to the ground with #4 rebar.

Upside: Also called segmented retaining walls, interlocking-block systems from Keystone, Risi, Rockwood, Tensar, Versa-Lok, and others are mortar-free and easy to assemble. Units are small and modular, so walls can taper, turn, wrap, and curve. Available in many textures, shapes, and colors, these engineered systems, which can be used for walls up to 20 feet high, rely on several techniques including:

Downside: You cant mix and match manufacturers systems. Block systems that use metal pins to tie blocks together can be a challenge to line up exactly.

Cost: About $12 to $20 per square face foot installed, depending on block configuration and site. More expensive systems tend to be stronger and stack higher.

Remember:

Arrange before delivery from the masonry yard where materials will be stockpiled in your yard and if the forklift used to off-load the truck will fit through backyard gate, etc. Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage, and backfill. Use manufacturers calculators to determine how many blocks, pins and tiebacks youll need. When stacking a row of blocks, sweep off each layer; small pebbles can disrupt the pattern. Cap walls with flat units or stone held down with silicone caulk.

Upside: For a stone retaining wall, a handsome rustic appeal. Collecting stones on site and doing the work yourself can also save money. Brick provides a more formal look. Cinder block is inexpensive and can be reinforced with steel and concrete.

Downside: Stone-wall masonry is harder than it appears. Fitting the stone is exacting work and making mortar joints look natural requires experience (nonmortared stone walls dont offer much holding power). Brick masonry also requires skill to hit the visual standard all of us are used to. Cinder block has to be faced with stucco, brick, or stone or overgrown with plantings to make it attractive.

Cost: About $10 to $12 for cinder block; for brick and stone, around $20 to $25 per square face foot (double that figure for a two-sided wall).

Remember:

Follow all rules for landscape fabric, drainage, and backfill. A mortared wall needs a footing and a drainage system that will defeat frost heaving. A dry, nonmortared wall allows water to seep through, relieving pressure behind the wall naturally.

Retaining walls usually fail slowly. Common problems can often be fixed if you act quickly. You can also protect a new wall in the building process by safeguarding it against the three most common failures:

What happens: A load is added within 3 feet of the top of the wall. The wall leans out at the top and eventually tips over

What to do: Tell your landscape architect or engineer if a car or shed will be placed near the wall. The pro should then beef up the footer and increase the number of tiebacks or deadmen to add strength. Adding retrofit tiebacks is expensive and requires excavation, partial dismantling, and reengineering the wall.

What happens: Soil behind the wall gets saturated, causing hydrostatic water pressure and weight to topple the wall.

What to do: Replace native soil behind the wall with 3/4-minus or bank-run gravel for 2 feet. Line the inside base of the wall with 4-inch perforated tile drain on a gravel bed that slopes 1 inch for every 4 feet of run to carry water to daylight or a dry well. Topsoil should take up only the top 6 inches behind the wall.

What happens: Retaining wall lacks proper drainage or a footer. Soil becomes saturated and freezes, heaving upward and breaking the wall apart.

What to do: Walls should rest on 3/4-minus or bank-run gravel, with the footer or wall base buried beneath the frost line (6 to 48 inches, depending on region). For deep frost, use concrete block rather than retaining wall to ground level, then build the retaining wall on that. Well-drained gravel behind and beneath the wall can substantially diminish frost heaving.

Hickson Inc.

1955 Lake Park Dr., Suite 250

Smyrna, GA 30080

http://www.hickson.com

770-801-6600

Keystone Retaining Wall Systems

4444 West 78th Street

Bloomington, MN 55435

http://www.keystonewalls.com

800-747-8971

Osmose Wood Preserving

1016 Everee Inn Rd., Box O

Griffin GA 30224-0249

http://www.osmose.com

770-228-8434

Risi Stone Systems

8500 Leslie St., Suite 390

Thornhill, ON L3T 7P1 Canada

http://www.risistone.com

800-626-9255

Rockwood Retaining Walls, Inc.

7200 N. Highway 63

Rochester, MN 55906

http://rockwoodwalls.com

800-535-2375

Tensar Earth Technologies

5775-B Glenridge Dr., Lakeside Center, Suite 450

Atlanta, GA 30328

http://www.tensarcorp.com

800-836-7271

Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems

6348 Highway 36, Suite 1

Oakdale, MN 55128

http://www.versa-lok.com

800-770-4525

Continued here:
Retaining Walls: How to Build Them, Costs & Types - This Old House

Stranded By Storms, Neighbor Keeps Mountain Community Connected With Outside World Thanks to Zipline  NBC Bay Area

See original here:
Stranded By Storms, Neighbor Keeps Mountain Community Connected With Outside World Thanks to Zipline - NBC Bay Area

Concrete retaining wall cost

A concrete retaining wall costs $3,000 to $10,000 on average. Precast, poured, or interlocking concrete retaining walls cost $45 to $270 per linear foot or $15 to $45 per square foot. Large concrete retaining wall blocks cost $25 to $100 each for materials or $20 to $45 per square foot installed.

Concrete retaining wall cost - chart

*Total installed costs for 3 to 6 high retaining walls.

In comparison, other types of retaining walls cost $20 to $50 per square foot on average.

The following table shows the average cost to build a 50 long concrete retaining wall thats 3 to 6 tall.

Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.

A poured concrete retaining wall costs $60 to $270 per linear foot for 3 to 6 tall walls or $20 to $45 per square foot on average. Total costs depend on the size, location, site accessibility, and reinforcement requirements.

Poured concrete retaining wall

Building a new stamped concrete retaining wall costs $25 to $50 per square foot on average for pouring a concrete wall and stamping the surface. Adding a stamped design to existing walls costs $5 to $15 per square foot for a concrete overlay.

Stamped concrete resurfacing is a veneer alternative with designs and colors imitating wood, stone, or other materials.

The following table shows the differences between block retaining walls and poured concrete retaining walls:

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Installing precast concrete retaining walls costs $45 to $270 per linear foot on average or $15 to $45 per square foot. Total prices depend on the concrete block or panel type, installation method, design, and site preparation needed.

*Installed prices for 3 to 6 tall walls.

Precast concrete wall for landscaping

An interlocking concrete block retaining wall costs $45 to $210 per linear foot installed for 3 to 6 tall walls or $15 to $35 per square foot. Interlocking concrete blocks cost $2 to $10 per block for materials only, depending on the size, type, and brand.

Criblock interlocking retaining walls cost $20 to $35 per square foot and are ideal for waterfronts.

*Material prices only.

These modular concrete blocks are quick to install with their mortarless design. Some concrete-mold options imitate the look of natural stone.

Commercial or large concrete retaining wall blocks cost $60 to $270 per linear foot for 3 to 6 tall walls or $20 to $45 per square foot installed. Large concrete retaining wall block prices are $25 to $100 per block, depending on the size.

A cinder-block retaining wall costs $60 to $210 per linear foot for 3 to 6 tall walls or $20 to $35 per square foot of surface area with backfill and footings. Total costs depend on the size, foundation type, wall finish, and reinforcements.

Building a concrete precast panel wall costs $25 to $40 per square foot. These factory-built panels require crane installation after delivery to the site. Installation takes less time than on-site-built concrete walls.

Building a 25x3 concrete bag retaining wall costs $360 to $600 in materials. A 60- to 80 lb.-bag of concrete mix costs $3 to $5 per bag. Concrete-bag retaining walls are an easy DIY project built by stacking bags up to 2 to 3 tall max.

*Price for 60- to 80-lb. concrete-mix bags only.

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Installing a concrete block retaining wall costs $45 to $210 per linear foot for 3 to 6 tall walls, depending on the construction method.

*For 3 to 6 tall walls.

Many local conditions, including the weather, soil type, and site location all have an impact on the cost to build a concrete retaining wall:

Concrete blocks for a retaining wall cost $2 to $10 per block on average or $4 to $20 per square foot for materials only. Prices depend on the block type and size. Some interlocking-concrete wall blocks dont need mortar to install, reducing installation costs.

*Material prices only.

The labor cost to build a concrete retaining wall is $40 to $80 per hour or $10 to $25 per square foot of the wall surface, depending on the material and construction method.

*Labor cost only.

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A concrete retaining wall lasts 50 to 100 years on average, depending on the installation and design quality, maintenance level, and local soil conditions.

You can stain concrete retaining wall blocks in many colors. Exterior concrete stain costs $30 to $60 per gallon that covers 200 to 400 square feet. Stained concrete blocks imitate the look of bricks, stone, or wood.

A concrete retaining wall needs a 1.5 to 2.0 deep footing for most walls 4 to 8 tall. In Northern regions, footings should be deeper to go below the frost line for stability. Taller walls also require larger and deeper foundations designed by engineers.

A concrete retaining wall is 6 to 12 thick, depending on the height, reinforcements, design, and soil type. Most retaining walls are 8 thick for heights of 4 to 6 tall, and walls must be 12 thick for retaining structures 10 to 12 tall.

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Most building codes only allow DIY concrete retaining walls up to 2 to 3 tall maximum before a structural engineer and mason are necessary. Use this checklist when hiring concrete contractors near you.

Get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted pros:

Get free estimates

Excerpt from:
How much does a concrete retaining wall cost? - HomeGuide

Putting up walls can be a good thing. That is, if youre talking about retaining wall ideas in your landscape design. At the basic level, a retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil behind it, explains Joe Raboine, director of Belgard Residential Hardscapes, an outdoor hardscapes company. Though retaining walls are most commonly used to create a functional area out of a sloped terrain, they do serve other functions.

You might think that retaining wall ideas are all about functionafter all, retaining walls prevent soil erosion and reduce the risk of floodingbut they are not all utility; these structures can enhance an outdoor space by creating levels, evening out a hillside, and even using pavers to produce a pathway. They can also be used to create topographic interest or create smaller features, such as raised garden beds, says Collin Koonce, director of landscape architecture and urban planning at BKV Group, a holistic architectural design firm, based in Washington, D.C. These builds can even double as seats or corral all your backyard greenery in a neat landscape.

Aesthetically, a retaining wall can turn an unworkable incline on the land into usable, uniformed surfaces, notes Mauricio Lobeira, Monterrey, Mexico-based architect, interior designer and cofounder of Ten Plus Three. Many retaining walls end up as garden or terrace backdrops, he adds.

Whats more, creating a retaining wall can boost the value of your house. Flatter and uniformed surfaces are more expensive than steep ones, Lobeira says. Steep surfaces almost always have to have some sort of intervention in one way or another. Retaining wall materials including concrete blocks, bricks, wall stones, railroad ties, or treated timbersallowing for plenty of hardscaping options that suit your house. Here, 40 creative retaining wall ideas that are a step above the rest.

Layered flora adds natural texture to soften the stone.

More:
40 Retaining Wall Ideas That Will Elevate Your Landscaping

A retaining wall is a structure designed and constructed to resist the lateral pressure of the soil when the desired ground elevation exceeds the angle of repose of the soil and these walls are used to support the soil laterally so that it can maintain different levels on both sides.

Here we will learn about retaining wall, types of retaining walls & their application.

A retaining wall is a structure that holds or retains soil behind it.

There are various materials used to construct retaining walls such as concrete blocks, concrete, treated lumber, rocks or boulders.

The material held or supported by a retaining wall is known as a backfill, its top surface may be horizontal or inclined.

The position of the backfill above the horizontal plane at the wall top is called surcharge and its inclination to the horizontal is called surcharge angle.

Function of retaining wall:

These walls depends only on their self-weight to withstand lateral earth pressure.

Typically, these retaining walls is essential for the massive gravitational load required to counter soil pressure.

Such walls are constructed with various materials such as concrete, stone, and masonry, it is economical for elevations up to 3 m.

Crib, gabion wall and bin retaining walls are additionally a type of gravity retaining walls.

These walls are the type of gravity wall, constructed from a particular persons interlocking packing containers, which might be made from wooden or precast concrete.

Then, filled with crushed stone or other coarse granular material to sort the free-drain structure.

The primary types of walls include strengthened precast and wooden retaining walls.

They are constructed to support the plains, while they are not recommended for supporting slopes or structures.

These walls are multi-orbital, rectangular wire mesh packing containers filled with rocks or different suitable materials.

It is used for the development of erosion management structures & to stabilize the steep slopes.

These walls are made up of stem or base slabs, constructed with reinforced concrete, precast concrete, or prestressed concrete.

These walls are built either on-site or precast offsite, it is economical up to 10 meters in height.

The bottom slab portion under the backfill materials is known as the heel, and the opposite part is called the toe.

It requires a small amount of concrete compared to the gravity wall, however its design and construction are carefully performed.

Similar to the gravity wall, sliding, reversing, and bearing pressures will be considered during its configuration.

These walls are counter fort behind the wall slab and the base slab are reinforced with monolithic.

The counter-fort wall is equal or slightly more significant than half the counter-fort height.

The height of the counter-fort wall is 812 m.

These walls is adopted when the house is constrained or thin retaining walls are required.

An anchored retaining walls are appropriate for loose soil on rocks.

Deep cable rods or wiring routes are provided sideways into the deep earth, then the ends are filled with concrete to give anchors.

Anchors (tiebacks) work towards eliminating pressure and slipping.

They are made by mixing the reinforced concrete piles adjoining one another.

They are forced to a suitable depth to withstand pressure used in temporary and permanent works.

The pile provides extreme rigidity to the parts of the retaining walls, which can place lateral pressure at tremendous digging depth with almost no disturbance to the surrounding structure or properties.

Sheet pile walls are constructed using metal sheets to the required extent in slope or excavation, however, they cant stand up to very excessive pressures.

Maintaining the sheet pile economically to a height of 6 meters.

This wall is most economical hence they are mostly constructed.

It is supported by unique fills (granulated) and held together by reinforcement, which can be steel strips and plastic mesh.

These walls are used in both masses and supports the stability known as hybrid or composite retaining walls.

Protective structure:

Retaining walls are used to counteract the forces of gravity to protect the structure.

In other words, they are used to hold the soil.

Functional production:

Retaining walls serve as a functional product to prevent sinkholes from destroying your landscape structure.

They are used to stabilize the sloping landscapes and provides level surfaces on slopes.

Best run-off solution:

If your property is not prevented from infiltrating, then rainwater runoff can completely damage your land.

This can protect your landscape design, also prevent floods from inflowing the area.

Reduce maintenance:

Retaining walls can protect your landscape design and help you in the long run.

As a protective feature it reduces maintenance and prevents erosion.

Decorative feature:

Retaining walls additionally give your landscape an aesthetically pleasing design.

Vertical cracks:

Some retaining walls develop vertical cracks in poured concrete due to extreme pressure or extensive changes in temperature.

Failing Foundation:

Some retaining walls are not able to sustain high pressure from the soil such as the brick walls, often resulting in brick breakage or foundation failure.

Termites:

Retaining walls can attract termites to your property when the wood is used as a retaining wall.

A retaining wall stabilizes the soil and protects the buildings from overturning and slipping, it also helps to save construction costs.

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Retaining Wall: Types, Purpose, Advantages & Disadvantages

If youre ready to begin a retaining wall project on your property, make sure youre informed of the many material options. Although stone and concrete are common choices, materials such as brick or lumber may often achieve a more rustic look. Theres also the issue of choosing the proper colors to create the perfect aesthetic for your garden. With so many styles & materials to select from, deciding on the ideal ones for your retaining wall project can be complex.

Modern Concrete The smooth form of concrete can complement a modern garden. When it comes to texture, the smooth wall presents an attractive contrast. When combined with the rougher textures of the plants, it draws attention.

Wooden Fence A wooden fence can still produce a nice effect if youre more concerned with budget.

Pale Sandstone This is a terrific choice for anyone who wishes to blend a modern style with a rustic touch. It entails constructing a retaining wall out of sandstone.

Interlocking Blocks If you want the retaining wall to stand out in the landscape, use this inventive idea. Putting several interlocking blocks on the wall creates a one-of-a-kind aesthetic impact that will undoubtedly draw a lot of attention.

Water Feature While retaining walls are typically used to hold back soil; you can use this landscaping element more creatively by combining it with a water feature.

Boulder Wall For a sense of dependable strength, try a retaining wall installation utilizing boulders. This is an excellent choice for anyone who wants stone as the principal material for retaining soil in the garden via a retaining wall.

Mixed Brick Colors If modern concrete walls are too basic for you, perhaps a mixed color approach would be better for your garden.

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51 Really Cool Retaining Wall Ideas - Sebring Design Build ...

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Keeping Hanging Lake Trail useable has been a difficult task - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel