St. James Episcopal Church, the architectural icon and tourism magnet at the top of North Washington Street in Sonora, underwent more than $250,000 in upgrades completed in 2019 and it was money well-spent.

The Red Church came through this past winters storms with minimal damage thanks to its upgraded steeple, roof tiles, and repainted exterior walls. But all that work was paid for by private donations.

Regular upkeep, maintenance, and repairs on the church building, which dates to 1860, and the parish hall, which dates to the early 1900s, and the church grounds, can run to $3,000 to $4,000 a month.

So, the nonprofit church has partnered with the Sonora Area Foundation to create a new Historic Red Church and Parish Hall Preservation Fund to defray those costs.

The church and foundation are coordinating with the Sonora Chamber of Commerce and Visit Tuolumne County to help promote public understanding of the need for preserving one of the most recognizable buildings in the city and Tuolumne County.

Mary Lynn Ashburn, who oversees the churchs business side as bishops warden, took time on April 21 to show some of the most glaring examples of unrepaired damage and deterioration of the churchs parish hall.

The hall hosts weekly events that benefit homeless individuals and low-income families, as well as annual Christmas events for the needy and for the entire community.

Ashburn pointed out rotting wood and peeling paint on the underside of the hall portico on Snell Street, which she said is pervasive on the portico structure and its support pillars. She pointed out where pieces of tree limbs and other debris are still on a part of the halls roof, remnants of recent winter storms.

On the Wyckoff Street side of the building, Ashburn pointed to more rotting wood and peeling paint on a corner of the halls roof, and more repairs needed on the side that faces North Washington Street, including roof work, roof paint, and replacement of an exterior stairway thats been condemned since before 2013.

Ashburn also showed where a retaining wall and a heavy, metal safety railing on another end of the hall deteriorated and fell in 2015. The railing is still on the ground, and broken edges of concrete are unrepaired.

While upgrades to the churchs steeple, roof, and exterior walls helped protect it from this winters storms, the powerful, bomb cyclone storms of March took out a historic lamp fixture outside the church. Replacing the lamp will cost a minimum estimated $1,500 and because the church and its grounds are historic properties under strict preservation requirements, the loss of the storm-damaged lamp may require replacement of two other undamaged lamps, for a total cost approaching $5,000 or more.

Inside the hall, Ashburn exchanged hugs with Theresa Bowers, 66, who comes to the Red Church some Fridays for prayers and food offerings provided by the nonprofit Lighthouse Ministries. With support from the church and other nonprofits, Bowers has recently transitioned from unstable housing situations, including a series of trailers, to a new apartment for seniors.

At a table in the hall, Bobby Richey, Kathy Fascilla and Lani Farley held hands in a prayer circle with Pastor Don Sullivant of Lighthouse Ministries.

This building has been such a blessing to help heal this community, Sullivant said. Thats what this church is all about, and thats what Lighthouse Ministries is all about. Helping and healing.

June Nielsen, a volunteer for 11 years with Lighthouse Ministries, helped out in the hall on April 21 making coffee, soup and sandwiches for the homeless, low-income families, and anyone else in need.

Nielsen also opened the Lighthouse Ministries food pantry in the hall for people who need help.

The Historic Red Church and Parish Hall Preservation Fund will allow the church to pay for repairs, maintenance, and general upkeep of church property without dipping into the churchs general operating account, which is extremely limited, Ashburn said.

The Sonora Chamber of Commerce will help the church raise the initial $5,000 required to open the Historic Red Church and Parish Hall Preservation Fund, and it will ask chamber members to contribute, Ashburn said. The church will need to actively fundraise and promote the existence of the new fund.

The Red Church is also considering letting the public know more about how its an active church by publishing and promoting its events and times of religious services.

We believe that having our community events better publicized will let people know that we are active and in the long term will attract new membership, Ashburn said in a recent report to a church committee. We often hear people say they didnt know there were services in the Red Church. If our name is more familiar, people should pay more attention to our religious events as well.

Other groups that use the hall and grounds include the nonprofit Give Someone a Chance, which brings a shower bus for homeless individuals in a church parking lot every Friday.

Give Someone a Chance will soon offer a laundry bus, Ashburn said. As many as 30 people a week come out for the shower bus during warmer months.

In addition, Tuolumne County members of the National Association of Mental Illness hold monthly meetings at the hall that draw 20 to 30 people each time, Ashburn said.

Sonora High School seniors are planning an art exhibit in the hall May 7. A popular Poetry Out Loud event was staged there in February. Other events at the church include Sonoras annual Christmas Caroling and Tree Lighting.

Given that so many people in need already rely on the Red Church and its properties at North Washington and Snell streets, and that so many tourism-oriented businesses in downtown Sonora already rely on the widely recognized building, Ashburn hopes the new Historic Red Church and Parish Hall Preservation Fund will help it remain an icon for future generations of residents and visitors.

I pray that this will be a way to ensure that our beloved church building will be an active part of the Sonora community as the light on the hill for many years, Ashburn said.

For more information about St. James Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin visit http://www.diosanjoaquin.org.

Go here to read the rest:
New preservation fund set up to protect iconic Red Church and ... - Union Democrat

The Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals near Charlotte, North Carolina, is the fifth NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series 21-race calendar event in 2023. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two full-time entries one in Top Fuel for 10-time Top Fuel winner Leah Pruett and one in Funny Car for three-time Funny Car champion Matt Hagan. Hagan delivered TSRs third victory of the season in the prior event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driving his Haas Automation Dodge SRT HELLCAT Funny Car to his 46th career victory in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals.

Coming into Charlotte, Pruett is sixth in the Top Fuel standings, 71 points behind leader Steve Torrence. Hagan leads the Funny Car standings with a 105-point advantage over Ron Capps. With his win at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, Hagan is 19th in all-time NHRA tour victories and fourth among Funny Car drivers behind only John Force (155), Ron Capps (67), and Robert Hight (54).

Pruett enters Charlotte representing Rush Truck Centers on her red Top Fuel dragster. Hagan, meanwhile, sports the red, white, blue, and black colors of Operation Healing Forces (OHF) and Johnsons Horsepowered Garage (JHG) on his Dodge Charger SRT HELLCAT Funny Car.

The Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals will mark Pruetts 198th career Top Fuel start. Itll be her 18th overall start at Charlotte and her 10th in the Four-Wide Nationals. For Hagan, the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals will be his 320th career Funny Car start. Itll be his 24th overall start at Charlotte and his 12th in the Four-Wide Nationals.

Pruett is eyeing her first victory at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. In 2017 and 2019, she advanced to the final quad at Charlotte. In 2015, Pruett raced to a semifinal appearance at the Carolina Nationals. Pruett is seeking her first No. 1 qualifier at the event. She hoisted the winners Pro Modified trophy at the fall race in both 2011 and 2012 and was the No. 1 qualifier in Factory Stock in the spring event in 2018.

Hagan has three career wins at Charlotte. Two of his victories came in 2011 and 2014 during the Carolina Nationals. Hagan won the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on April 21, 2013 (4.071 ET at 315.34 mph) when he defeated Blake Alexander (4.156 ET at 294.56 mph), Tim Wilkerson (5.141 ET at 153.39 mph) and Chad Head (10.525 ET at 67.05 mph). Hagan has raced in five final quads at Charlotte (2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2019). He is seeking his first No. 1 qualifier at the event.

Hagan was the first Funny Car driver to break the four-second barrier when he completed a run of 3.995 seconds in 2011 at Charlotte. His milestone run was commemorated with a sign on the retaining wall near the starting line.

The Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals will be a family affair for TSR as team owner Tony Stewart will host people from Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), the NASCAR team he co-owns with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. SHR is just nine miles north of the Kannapolis, North Carolina track.

Friday, April 28 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV) Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 4:45 p.m. EDT Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 7:45 p.m. EDT

Saturday, April 29 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV) Nitro qualifying session (Q3): 1:15 p.m. EDT Nitro qualifying session (Q4): 4:30 p.m. EDT

Sunday, April 30 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV) Round 1: 12 p.m. EDT Round 2: 2:30 p.m. EDT Finals: 4:35 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1 Friday, April 28: Qualifying show (7 p.m. EDT) Sunday, April 30: Qualifying show, recapping all of Saturdays action (12 p.m. EDT) Sunday, April 30: Finals show (6 p.m. EDT)

Source: TSR Nitro

Read the original post:
TSR Nitro Teams Ready For Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals - Mopar Insiders

The city expects to soon hire a contractor to start removing failing sections of the Claremont Access retaining wall.

The tender for that job expected to cost $4.5 million was scheduled to close Wednesday, engineering director Jackie Kennedy told council.

Once that contract is awarded, the hope is to start the job in coming weeks and reopen the now-closed Mountain-climbing road in the months ahead, Kennedy said.

A new bulge in the steel wall, indicative of a potential failure of certain sections, prompted the temporary emergency closure of downbound lanes in early March.

Residents have been redirected to other accesses to reach the lower city, which dispersed traffic without too much trouble, said Mike Field, acting transportation director, earlier this month.

But residents of the east Mountain are just queued up and backed up with a lot of frustration, Coun. Tom Jackson said Wednesday, asking if a permanent closure was in the cards.

All accesses across the city are really critical corridors, and any concept of removal an access from the system needs to be looked at very, very carefully, Field responded. So theres no plans in this moment to remove any accesses.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free)

Sign In

Register

More here:
Contract to address failing Claremont access walls expected to be ... - Hamilton Spectator

Authorities say that a box truck driver was killed in a crash involving a semi truck during the Thursday evening rush hour in South Carolina.

The crash occurred around 4:40 p.m. on April 27 on I-85 near Blacksburg, South Carolina.

Box truck driver Timothy Antonio McNeil, 25, was southbound on I-85 at mile marker 106 when traffic slowed for a previous fatal crash on the interstate.

As the box truck was stopped for the traffic, it was struck by a southbound semi truck.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler described the crash:

After making contact, the tractor trailer dragged the truck several hundred feet before the driver realized it was underneath.

McNeil died at the scene.

A passenger in the box truck was transported to a hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The crash that caused the traffic slowdown occurred at 4:35 p.m. when 56 year old motorist Leigh Ann Hamilton Marshall struck a retaining wall and lost control, veering into the path of a semi truck. Marshall died at the scene and a passenger was hospitalized.

View original post here:
Man dies after his box truck was dragged under tractor trailer, South Carolina officials say - CDLLife

Ongoing work at the Illinois State Capitol complex will require the shutdown of Monroe Street, between Second and Pasfield streets, beginning at 7 a.m. Monday.

City officials said the closure will last one day, weather permitting.

The makeover is the largest renovation project in the Capitol's history, said Andrea Aggertt, director of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, at a recent presentation to the Springfield City Council.

More: Meg Thurman named new director of student services for Sycamore school district

The $225 million project is being funded by the state's Rebuild Illinois initiative.

"It's going to have a huge and significant impact on visitors to Springfield, local citizens of Springfield and hopefully tourists from across the U.S.," Aggertt said.

An underground garage being built on the north side of the Capitol adjacent to Monroe Street will have 440 parking spaces, along with electric vehicle charging stations.

Completion of that part of the project is set for the fall.

Monroe has been reduced to one lane around the capitol in recent weeks.

Around Springfield, one east-bound curb lane on Stevenson Drive will be closed in front of City Water, Light & Powers Dallman power plant and water purification plant complex at 3100 Stevenson Drive to accommodate installation of pipe for the lime lagoon project.

The work, weather permitting, is expected to last about one week.

Motorists should plan to take alternative routes to avoid delays and should slow down and be aware of construction crews.

Stanford Avenue will be closed from 11th Street to Fox Bridge Road for the next 15 months beginning on May 1.

The new road with curbs and gutters, storm sewers, sidewalks on the south side and a multi-use trail on north side will replace an oil and chip road.

The cost of the work is$7.5 million, according to city officials.

Churchill Road remains closed south of Jefferson Street for the replacement of a bridge.It is scheduled to reopen the first week of September.

Madison and Jefferson are closed between Ninth and 11th streetsto construct new underpasses as part of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project. The closures will last until the summer of 2024.

In Scott County, Illinois 106 just west of Winchester will close Monday for the construction of a retaining wall, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The improvement will occur just east of the Hillview Blacktop and is estimated to be completed by late November.

A detour directing traffic to use portions of Illinois 106, Illinois 100 and Interstate 72 will be posted. Work is expected to be completed by late November.

According to the Menard County Highway Department, Altig Bridge Avenue will be closed from Dawson Street to Smoot Street for a culvert replacement across the county highway beginning at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

The roadway will be reopened at the end of Wednesday. Meanwhile, traffic can utilize Smoot and Dawson streets as alternative routes around the construction area.

Contact StevenSpearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

The rest is here:
Work around the State Capitol will close part of Monroe Street Monday - The State Journal-Register

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