Failing retaining wall forces closure of Brattleboro road

A part of Green Street in Brattleboro is blocked off due to a failing retaining wall. (Kayla Rice/Reformer)

BRATTLEBORO -- Public Works Director Steve Barrett said Lower Green Street is going to remain closed while engineers determine the extent of the damage to the enormous retaining wall that supports the street.

Barrett ordered the road closed Friday after cracks appeared in Lower Green Street above the wall which leads down into the Harmony Parking Lot.

The town has been monitoring the wall for years, Barrett said, and a few weeks ago an engineer noticed a significant shift in the stones and earth.

Cracks then appeared in the pavement above the wall and Barrett closed the street to all vehicles.

"It's a serious situation. It could collapse," Barrett said Thursday.

A part of Green Street in Brattleboro is blocked off due to a failing retaining wall. (Kayla Rice/Reformer)

The town closed the road from Retting Place to High Street to all vehicular traffic.

On Monday the town cut down the tops of the trees that are growing on the wall to protect buildings, vehicles and the public in case the wall does come down.

If the wall fails the trees would crash down as well, extending the damage that could be caused by the wall failure.

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Failing retaining wall forces closure of Brattleboro road