Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

District 47 - West TN NorthernDYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over SR 211 in Dyersburg will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over the South Fork Forked Deer River will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55/45 MPH.Restrictions: Beginning January 25, 2021, Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction with a 12 6 lane restriction.

DYER COUNTY, SR-20: The repair of bridge on US 412 (SR 20) over Hogwallow Road will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 55 MPH

GIBSON COUNTY, SR-43 (Non-TDOT work):Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: There will be a temporary lane closure to cut asphalt, remove and replace with 33c crushed stone temporary based (left overnight).

Thursday, February 4, 7:00 a.m.4:00 p. m.: There will be a temporary lane closure to excavate for the point repair and complete repair, backfill with TDOT No. 57 crushed stone and 33c base (left overnight)

Friday, February 5, 11:00 a.m.1:00 p.m.: There will be a possible temporary lane closure for asphalt repair.

HENDERSON COUNTY (New Lexington By-Pass): The grading, drainage, construction of bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving on US 412 (SR 459) from US 412 (SR 20) west of Lexington to near SR 22 south of Lexington. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HENRY COUNTY, SR-54: The grading, drainage, construction of bridges, retaining wall and paving on SR 54 from near Rison Street to near Smith Road. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 3): Grading, drainage, construction of bridges and paving on future I-69 from west of SR 21 to US 51 (SR 3) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020: Bethlehem Road north from Clifford Rives Road to Lindenwood Road will be closed. Claude Tucker Road north from Cloys Road to Section Line Road will be closed. Detour routes are posted.

WEAKLEY COUNTY, US 45E (SR-43): The repair of bridge on US 45E (SR 43) over the North Fork Obion River and Overflow will cause possible temporary lane closures throughout the project.

TDOT District 47 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, February 3 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

District 48 - West TN Middle/Southern

CROCKETT COUNTY, SR-20 (US 412) (Non-TDOT work):

Wednesday, February 3 through Wednesday, February 10, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on SR 20 (US 412) east and westbound in Bells, TN at SR 88, for the installation of a turning lane in the median and shoulder upgrades.

DECATUR COUNTY, I-40: Wednesday, February 3, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: There will be lane closures on I-40 east and westbound in Henderson and Decatur counties MM 95-126 for pothole repair.

HARDIN COUNTY, SR-69: The construction of a Bulb Tee bridge over Doe Creek along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 69 at LM 10.06. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HARDIN COUNTY, SR-128: The grading, drainage and paving on SR 128 from south of Pyburns Drive (LM 3.11) to north of SR 226 (Airport Road) (LM 6.54). Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HAYWOOD COUNTY, SR-19 (Brownsville Bypass): The construction of an I-Beam bridge along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 19 (Brownsville Bypass) from east of SR 87 to west of Windrow Rd. One lane will remain. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH within the project limits. Shaw Chapel and King Road are closed at SR 19 and a detour put in place. Haralson St (Old SR19) will be closed at SR19 Bypass beginning Wednesday 11-4-2020 and a detour put in place.

HENDERSON COUNTY, S.R. 22: The repair of the bridges on S.R. 22 over Big Beaver Creek (L.M. 19.51) and Little Beaver Creek (L.M. 20.01). Restrictions: Beginning February 1, 2020 there will be a 12 width restriction put in place. Motorists should watch for crews and equipment in the roadways. One lane will remain open in both directions.

HENDERSON COUNTY, I-40: Wednesday, February 3, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: There will be lane closures on I-40 east and westbound in Henderson and Decatur counties MM 95.0-126.0 for pothole repair.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40: Thursday, February 4, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: There will be lane closures on I-40 east and westbound in Madison county MM 67.0-95.0 for pothole repair.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40: The widening of I-40 east of US 45 (SR 5) MM 82.0 to east of US 70

(SR 1) MM 87.0 in Jackson, including bridges, retaining walls and installation of TDOT Smartway Intelligent Transportation System.

Wednesday, February 3 through Wednesday, February 10, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Campbell St. will be down to one lane in each direction over I-40 for Phase 1 bridge construction activities.

Wednesday, February 3, and Thursday. February 4, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 east and westbound will have intermittent left and right lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for hydro blasting and placing of barrier rail.

Sunday, February 7 through Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: I-40 east and westbound will have intermittent left and right lane closures from Exit 79 to Exit 82 for hydro blasting and placing of barrier rail.

Closed until Summer of 2021: Old Henderson Rd. Bridge over I-40 will be closed to thru traffic for Phase 1 bridge demolition activities. Detours will be posted for traffic.

Closed until Summer of 2021: Watson Rd. Bridge over I-40 will be closed to thru traffic for Phase 1 bridge demolition activities. Detours will be posted for traffic.

LOOK AHEAD

Wednesday, February 10 through Wednesday, February 17, 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: Campbell St. will be down to one lane in each direction over I-40 for Phase 1 bridge construction activities.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186 (US 45 Bypass) and I-40: Interchange improvements on SR 186 (US 45) north and southbound from the I-40 ramps to Old Hickory Blvd for paving and construction of retaining walls. Widening of I-40 from just east of Exit 79 to just east of Exit 82.

Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Monday, February 8 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

LOOK AHEAD

Thursday, February 11 and Friday, February 12, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Monday, February 15 through Wednesday, February 17, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for signal installation activities.

Monday, February 15 through Wednesday, February 17, 8:00 p.m.6:00 a.m.: I-40 east and westbound will have intermittent left and right lane closures from mile marker 79 to mile marker 82 for overhead sign installation.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-198 (East Chester) (Non-TDOT work):

Wednesday, February 3, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.: There will be a temporary lane closure on SR 198 eastbound between Belmont Avenue and Lenoir Street for sewer work.

TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, February 3 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

HQ BRIDGE REPAIR AND INSPECTION:

Wednesday, February 3, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be temporary closures on SR-1 (US 70) east and west bound for deck sounding at LM 26.89.

District 49 - West TN Southwest

FAYETTE COUNTY, I-40:

February 4, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: There will be a temporary lane closure I-40 eastbound near

SR-196 for bridge deck repair.

FAYETTE COUNTY, SR-196: The repair of bridge over Shaw Creek will cause a lane closure with temporary traffic signal near MM 7.0.

SHELBY COUNTY, I-40 & I-240: ITS Preventative Maintenance Contract lane and ramp closures to install overhead signs.

LOOK AHEAD:

Friday, February 12, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County to install overhead signs at the I-240 northbound EXIT 31 to I-40 westbound and the I-240 northbound EXIT 31 On ramp from Madison Ave to I-40 westbound. Traffic will be detoured via Exit 2 to Chelsea Ave during operation.Weather Permitting.

Friday, February 12, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on I-40 east and westbound between MM 1.0 and MM 2.0 for installing overhead signs. Traffic will be reduced to one lane westbound. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: The grading, drainage, construction of concrete Bulb-Tee and I-beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 14 from east of Old Covington Pike to SR 385 will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Construction on SR 14 for a widening project from SR 385 to east of Kerrville Rosemark Rd. There will be possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. Access to SR 14 from McCalla Rd West will be permanently detoured to Donnell Rd. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-205: The addition of turn lanes on SR 205 (Airline Rd) from Brooks River Drive to south of I 40 will have lane closures throughout the project.

Thursday, February 4 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on SR 205 north and southbound from Brooks River Drive (LM 15.75) to just south of I-40 (LM 16.07) to perform temporary road widening work. There will be one lane traffic with flaggers present at times. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35 MPH. Weather Permitting.

TIPTON COUNTY, SR-59: The Emergency Slide Repair of SR 59 near MM 1.0 will cause a road closure with full detour signed.

TDOT District 49 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair

Thursday, February 4 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be daytime lane closures at various locations on SR 195, MM 3.0-MM 3.4 (Fayette County) and SR 206, MM 2.3 (Tipton County.) One lane will be closed. Flagmen will be used to direct traffic. Weather Permitting.

Wednesday, February 3 through Tuesday, February 9, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on SR 3 (Shelby County), SR 385 (Shelby County), SR 14 (Shelby County), SR 15 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Shelby and Fayette Counties), I-55 and I-240. One lane will be CLOSED to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

Wednesday, February 3 through Tuesday, February 9, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-55 southbound EXIT 6B to I-240 northbound,

I-240 westbound EXIT 25A to I-55 southbound, and the SR 385 westbound On ramp from Hacks Cross. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, February 10 through Tuesday, February 16, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime ramp closures in Shelby County at the I-55 southbound EXIT 6B to I-240 northbound,

I-240 westbound EXIT 25A to I-55 southbound, and the SR 385 westbound On ramp from Hacks Cross. Weather Permitting.

TDOT District 49 MAINTENANCEThursday, February 4 through Wednesday, February 10, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis.

TDOT District 49 On-Call Sweeping and Drain Cleaning

Monday, February 8 through Thursday, February 11, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be nighttime lane closures on I-240 north and southbound from I-40 (MM 13.0 to MM 26.0) and I-40 east and westbound from Summer Avenue (MM 11.0) to Germantown Parkway (MM 16.0) for the purpose of drain cleaning. Weather Permitting.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at http://www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/TN511 for statewide travel or for West Tennessee follow https://twitter.com/NicLawrenceTDOT.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

In 2016, the Tennessee Department of Transportation lost three workers in the line of duty. All three were struck by passing motorists. Those tragedies bring the total number of TDOT lives lost to 112. We dont want to lose another member of our TDOT family. Were asking you to WORK WITH US. Click on the WORK WITH US logo to learn more.

Read the rest here:
West Tennessee Weekly Construction February 3-10, 2021 - tn.gov

ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) The South Carolina Law Enforcement Divisions investigative report on a deputy-involved shooting in Anderson provides more details about the experiences of the deputies and teenager involved.

A 16-year-old girl was shot by deputies five times on August 11, 2020, according to her attorneys, but survived. The man she was with, Bryan Hamilton Jr., died after shooting himself in the head, the coroner determined.

Investigators used surveillance video, medical records, probation files, crime scene evidence and interviews to determine what happened on the night of August 11.

The teen told SLED investigators she was in the car with Hamilton, who had recently made a sale of marijuana when he began to flee from law enforcement. She said after they crashed, he yanked her from the car and threatened to kill her if she didnt go with him. She said he grabbed a backpack containing marijuana and a revolver and ran.

Deputies and a K9 searched for them in a wooded area by the Lowes parking lot.

Once the dog indicated they were close, his handler braced himself as if he were entering combat. He told investigators he pulled out his gun as he came around the retaining wall up the steep hill. He said through his military and SWAT training, he knew that the subjects higher advantage point would put him and his colleagues at a great disadvantage.

The teen said she and Hamilton hid in the woods in silence and were lying on their backs when the dog bit her.

Body cam time logs in the SLED report showed seconds later, a shot was heard. Deputies said they believed they were being ambushed and returned fire, with one of the deputies shooting multiple rounds one handed while trying to control the dog leash with the other.

The teen was handcuffed before being treated for her injuries, the report said.

The 16-year-old described Hamilton as psychotic and not afraid to die. Medical records obtained by SLED showed Hamilton struggled with mental health issues.

Records also revealed Hamilton had been facing the possibility of going back to prison at the time, related to his probation for assault and battery and property damage. According to SLED, records showed he had been previously been charged with possession of marijuana, domestic violence, criminal sexual conduct with a minor, assault and battery, probation violation, and burglary.

Based on the SLED investigation, the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office found the deputies use of force at the time was appropriate to the situation.

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of that teen. A statement from one of the law firms representing her said they feel strongly that the SLED investigation is consistent with their arguments.

Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride said in a statement they look forward to having the entirety of the evidence provided and heard in a court setting.

More:
SLED investigative report reveals new details about deputy-involved shooting that injured teen and led to K9s death - WSPA 7News

A new initiative supports Black artists and racial equity.

Art is a means to an end, says Marshall Shorts. While many remember the Harlem Renaissance for its poetry and portraiture, Shorts recalls the artistic movement as a direct response to the brutality Blacks faced in the U.S. Whenever there is turbulence, Black people have historically responded with culture, says Shorts, a Columbus-based artist.

To that end, during a year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global protests ignited by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Shorts conceived the Deliver Black Dreams initiative to foster creativity and support Black artists. In response to despairing times, Shorts says, art can give the community hope. Its not just, lets make something pretty, lets tell these stories. Our art is a call to action, says Shorts, the lead artist of Deliver Black Dreams, which is spearheaded by the Maroon Arts Group and supported by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the city of Columbus.

Deliver Black Dreams amplifies several art projects created by Black artists in Central Ohio. This includes the preservation of Art Unites Cbus murals, art painted on plywood that protected Downtown buildings during the racial justice protests in the spring and summer of 2020. In addition, at least three large-scale murals highlighting the initiative will be directed and painted by Black artists from the community.

Conversation is one of the most important roles that public art plays in our community, says Jami Goldstein, vice president of marketing, communications and events for GCAC. Weve long positioned ourselves as a convener, collaborator and connector in the community. A huge part of that is financially through grants, but also by giving voice to artists as they seek to be a catalyst for change and dialogue.

The initiatives first project was completed in Novembera 5,000-square-foot mural with the words Deliver Black Dreams, Its for All of Us amid a bouquet of rainbow-colored fists. Funding by Deliver Black Dreams allowed for six Black artists to be paid at scale for the project, located on a Fifth Avenue retaining wall leading into the Milo-Grogan neighborhood. Artist LisaMcLymont, who designed the mural and led the mural team, says that the Black art community is broad and talented, but rarely gets opportunities to do large, highly visible projects.

I would like to see Black art coveted in the larger community as much as art by others,McLymontsays. That is shifting for me and a few others, but Id really like to see this happening for more Black artists of all ages and interests.

Though Black artists are being commissioned in response to the events of 2020, the art world is still mostly composed of white voices. Eighty-five percent of the art hanging in the nations top museums is by white artists, according to a 2019 study by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Association of Art Museum Directors. Shorts says Deliver Black Dreams will offer programs and opportunities that create a pipeline of Black talent.

I would love to see a line item on the city budget called Deliver Black Dreams, Shorts says. The logic is if you free the least amongst us, everybody in the broad spectrum is liberated, too. But its something that all of us have to take part in, not just Black people.

Excerpt from:
Replacing the Columbus Statue: Deliver Black Dreams' Call to Action - Columbus Monthly

By Jack Mayne

City Public Works Director Maiya Andrews updated the Burien City Council Monday night (Feb. 1, 2021) on a Seahurst landslide which started about seven years ago, and now is beginning to undermine the sidewalk. Andrews said Seattle public utilities have a sewer facility and a water facility in the slide area.

We had requested that SPU (Seattle Public Utilities) either take the lead or a good financial portion of the construction of the project. She told Council that never happened, we went back and forth with them for several months.

Fix retaining wallThe Seattle utilities have their own geologists who decided the slide was not an immediate hazard, but Andrews said the slide does need to be fixed in order to maintain access to the park. Andrews said the city is continuing to look at some more natural options but likely the cheapest fix will be a retaining wall using filter tiles.

She said she has asked Seattle utilities to check the slide again but has not heard from them and hopefully well hear from them in the next few weeks.

Right now, its open, we shifted the sidewalk traffic into the street a little bit, we are going to try to fix that up a little more, Andrews said.

Andrews said she hopes to further inform the Council soon.

Private storm drainsShe mentioned another issue that of two homes that we are aware of in the general vacuity of South 124th and 12th Avenue South that have flooded in the last couple of seasons, Andrews told Council. Storm drains in the area are primarily a private system on private property and it has historically existed at that location. The system is private and is to be maintained in that way.

Councilmember Nancy Tosta asked how much of the drainage system is privately owned and Andrews said, actually quite a bit, and the city is evaluating probably a half dozen flooding events. She said three or four of those events maybe even more were related from water flowing through the center of a block or are on private property that we dont have rights to. She added that thats not unusual because the way areas that were once rural are now part of cities.

Once unincorporated, now thrivingSuch events have cropped up in what were formerly unincorporated areas that are now thriving portions of expanding metropolitans.

Its how things developed sometimes, and neighbors are not forced to maintain those sort of things and Andrews said this one is sort of harder than some and has a lot of complexities. Sometimes septic and sewer systems are also involved, she said.

Councilmember Nancy Tosta said the city would be keeping track of such anomalies and get people to work together on these problem. Government Is not going to be able to pay for all of this sort of thing.

Councilmember Cydney Moore asks if the city could assist with some of these problem.

Id be careful said Andrews.

City Attorney Garmon Newsom II said to be wary of getting involved in relationships with private property owners issues.

Its not maybe practical to expect for (city) staff to now, in additional to its actual work, starting to manage the relationships between individuals and he added that frequently residents dont want to hear from us. They just want to do what they want to do.

He suggested the residents dont want to hear from city staff, and that more likely suggestions should come from councilmembers. There have been threats that no one is coming to my property, or else.

Photos of recent flooding in Boulevard Park from Deputy Mayor Krystal Marx Facebook page

Black History MonthThe Burien Council has proclaimed February as Black History Month.

The proclamation said, Black and African American community members in Burien own small businesses, work as educators, and contribute to all essential activities that contribute to Buriens prosperity and quality of life.

Promoted city employees

Continue reading here:
Burien Council hears of Seahurst landslide and of flooding problems due to rainy winter - The B-Town Blog

The reclaimed nature of land, faulty land filling, and lack of basic infrastructure continue to plague the majority of the plots identified for the rehabilitation of families evicted for rail-road connectivity of the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal.

In a preliminary report following an inspection of four out of the seven rehabilitation sites in 2017, an assistant executive engineer of PWD Building Sub Division had admitted to it. Things, alleges Moolampilly Coordination Committee that has been anchoring the cause of evictees, remain more or less same almost four years later.

The report found the plots at Moolampilly were devoid of basic infrastructure like a proper connecting road and that the existing road was too steep for vehicle movement. It also called for strong foundation for any construction on the plots.

The finding was almost similar for the plots at Mulavukad too. Basic infrastructure like road, water, power, and drains were found missing with strong foundation recommended for constructions owing to the reclaimed nature of land. Lack of basic infrastructure ailed the plots at Kothad as well.

The officer also recommended coconut wood piling and granite reinforcement considering the loose nature of land for the construction of a retaining wall for a plot of one of the evictees in Vaduthala.

In Mulavukad, none of the allotted 13 families have so far constructed house for fear of making investments in a lost cause, said Francis Kalathungal, general convener of Moolampilly Coordination Committee. While six out of the 13 families have constructed houses on the plots at Moolampilly, two houses have developed cracks.

Two out of 106 families alone have constructed houses on one of the rehabilitation plots at Thuthiyoor. One of the two houses constructed at another site at Thuthiyoor has developed a crack while the other has tilted discouraging the other 52 families there to undertake construction.

The rehabilitation site at Vaduthala was by far the best among the plots where 42 of the 98 families have constructed houses. In Cheranalloor, three out of the six families and in Kothad, four out of the 15 families have built houses.

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Rehabilitation plots on reclaimed land lack basic infrastructure - The Hindu

A University professor has given his opinion after a huge brick wall collapsed in Nottingham.

Emergency services evacuated five families from four separate properties in Spalding Road and Windmill Lane, Sneinton, on February 3 after a 70-foot high wall fell down.

Nottinghamshire Police said no-one was injured but some homes were left severely damaged.

David Large, a University of Nottingham professor in the Faculty of Engineering, said he believe it was likely to be down to recent weather conditions.

He said: "I looked at the pictures and thought the wall has failed, it has probably been gradually heading in that direction and just tipped over. Of this scale, it is quite uncommon.

"There's been a lot of rain recently, the soils have been quite wet and that would increase the force in the wall.

"If the wall was heading towards a point where it might collapse, it could just tip over. Over time a wall will gradually start to bulge or tilt. It will be subtle and at some point, it will reach a critical stage.

"It looked like the wall collapsed and what was behind it followed. The rockface doesn't seem to have moved that much, it seemed to be the soil between the rocks and the wall that's moved.

"Maybe the wall was a bit old and heading in that direction. It was obviously past its best. I would imagine that extra bit of rain recently has caused this particular section of wall to fall."

He added: "It is an absolutely terrible thing to happen, the people in those houses must've had the fright of their lives.

"Thankfully nobody was outside and close to the wall when it fell that could've been quite awful."

A City Council spokesperson said: We are doing all we can to provide help and support for residents affected by the collapse of a large wall in the early hours of Wednesday morning. This was an awful incident where everyone is relieved there have been no injuries, but which has left households already coping with lockdown with significant issues to deal with.

Boundary and retaining walls are generally the responsibility of property owners and we believe this to be the case here, but in situations like this, councils have the powers to carry out work which ensures peoples safety, with the ability to recover costs.

We are now focused on assessing the condition of the affected gardens and properties and making the area safe before turning our attention to the clear-up work.

Read the original here:
Expert's opinion on how 70ft wall collapsed in the middle of the night - Nottinghamshire Live

I heard about Jane building walls, and I had some tumbledown walls on my property, so I tried to get in touch with her.

Jane DeWitt: I was in my late 20s or early 30s then. It was about 13 years ago. I had come to the idea that stonework was what I loved to do and that Id keep doing it as long as it made me happy. I grew up on a dairy farm a couple miles from Mary Beths farmhouse, and I was deciding that this [town] really was my home. I was just trying to put together a life in this rural place.

Beck: Mary Beth, in your email you mentioned that you had a hard time getting ahold of Jane to hire her.

Mary Beth: Yes, shes very popular and hard to pin down. I knew I wanted her, because every time I saw a stone wall by Jane DeWitt I thought it was beautiful. The way I did pin her down was: Someone she was working for had a dog that wandered into the street. I brought his dog back to him. He was very grateful. I said, By the way, is Jane DeWitt the one who is building your walls? Ive been trying to get her for about a year now. The next day, there was Jane, knocking on my back door.

Jane: I think I interrupted your bath.

Beck: What were your first impressions of each other?

Jane: Mary Beth was so kind and excited. Those are the kind of people I like to work for and with, because its so much fun.

Mary Beth: My first impression of Jane was: This is a woman of confidence. Shes not going to be a bullshitter. Even though shes brilliant and has a degree in literature from Dartmouth, she was a spirit of nature. She loves browns and greens, and she was standing there with her long hair and perfect posture, and I said to myself: This is somebody that I want to connect with.

Beck: How did your relationship evolve from being a business owner and a client to being real friends?

Jane: One of the things that I like about my professionbut which also makes me hard to get ahold ofis that my work takes a while. And youre usually working at someones home, so you get to have a rapport with people. Were a chatty crew. I think Mary Beth asked if I would like to go bicycle riding, and I thought that could be fun.

Mary Beth: She had an old Subaru, and she would leave the windows open and play NPR while working on a wall. I hear this and I think, Wow, she likes the same radio station that I listen to. I had a pond [on the property], so I may have said, Help yourself to the pond, or something like that. There may have been swimming involved. It all happened very organically.

Jane: Swimming is something I love so much. Often on a hot day, even if shes not there, Ill go up and swim in her pond. It has become a refuge for me. Its just a beautiful place that shes created.

View original post here:
Friendship and Stonework Grow More Beautiful With Time - The Atlantic

Mumbai: The much-needed repairs of BG Kher Marg, the road that links areas like Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar, Kemps Corner to the rest of Mumbai does not seem to begin anytime soon, according to sources at the BMC.

The road that was damaged following a massive landslide after incessant rains in August 2020, will now be repaired only after an inspection post monsoon. "It is very important to observe what happens on the hill slope during monsoon this year. Only after observing the effects of heavy rains on the slope will we be able to start with the repair works accordingly," said a senior BMC official.

Formerly called as the Ridge Road, it is a long stretch running parallel to Walkeshwar. Named after former premier of the erstwhile State of Bombay, Bal Gangadhar Kher or B G Kher, the road is sometimes still referred to by its old moniker.

The road links the Malabar hill to a crucial junction, where Hughes Road, Napean Sea Road and Peddar Road connect. In a sense, it covered the gap between the Malabar hill and the rest of Mumbai, and hence started to be called as the Ridge Road.

The landslide near Kemps corner flyover on August 5, 2020 developed huge cracks on BG Kher Marg (Ridge Road) outside the iconic hanging garden and damaged the retaining wall of the garden too.

The incident did not just damage the road near Kemps Corner, Hughes Road but also led to the collapse of many trees on the stretch and damage to the main water pipeline that supplied water to D ward. The pipeline has been temporarily fixed and water supply was restored immediately by the BMC hydraulic department.

After the landslide, BMC formed a technical advisory committee, which included professors from IIT, NMIMS, BMC officials and members from structural consultancy companies, to study the condition of soil and road before reconstruction of the patch. As per reports, the Geo Technical investigation is completed as per the recommendation of the committee.

The work to be carried out on the stretch includes stabilisation of hill slope, retention of wall, repair of N S Patkar Marg and B G Kher Marg. While work in stabilising the hill slope and repair of N S Patkar Marg has already been undertaken by BMC, the Ridge Road will have to wait till post monsoon 2021.

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Mumbai: Repair of BG Kher Marg only after post-monsoon inspection - Free Press Journal

In 1959, a group of students died while on a hiking trip in the Ural Mountains. The circumstances of the incident and the way in which they died presented a mystery that has remained unsolved in the decades since.

The Dyatlov Pass incident is an intriguing unsolved mystery from the last century. In February 1959, a group of nine experienced Russian mountaineers perished during a difficult expedition in the northern Urals. A snow avalanche hypothesis was proposed, among other theories, but was found to be inconsistent with the evidence of a lower-than-usual slope angle, scarcity of avalanche signs, uncertainties about the trigger mechanism, and abnormal injuries of the victims.

Now, researchers have come up with a plausible explanation of the accident: a low-angle avalanche enabled by unusually slippery snow and high winds. From a piece in Wired about the investigation:

The cross-country skiers had actually pitched camp on a small step in the hillside, scooping away the snow to level it out. When they cut into the snowpack, they sliced through the weak layer, essentially initiating a countdown. When you create a cut in the slope to install the tent, its like when you remove a retaining wall, says Gaume, a snow physicist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. The slab of denser snow now hung precariously over the camp. All the ingredients were there, Gaume adds. There was a weak layer, there was a slab, and the slope angle was locally steeper than the critical angle.

Also from the Wired piece: the researchers were inspired by the realistic snow modeling that Disney did for Frozen. (via kottke ride home)

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Explaining the Icy Mystery of the Dyatlov Pass - kottke.org

PEOPLE who moved traffic cones and signs at Greengates junction, which resulted in a member of the public being injured, have been condemned by the construction team.

The actions, along with drivers making illegal manoeuvres, were a cause for concern in the latest update on the multi-million pound improvement works at the junction of Harrogate Road and New Line.

Howard Civil Engineering said construction has continued in 2021 as normal despite the national lockdown, as the work is exempt from the 'stay at home' regulations.

But the firm raised concerns about the behaviour of some people at the roadworks.

It said: "We are aware a small number of road users are making dangerousmanoeuvres around the traffic management measures which jeopardise the safety of others.

"Should you witness any dangerous or illegalmanoeuvres, please report these directly to West Yorkshire Police.

"We have also been receiving reports of people interfering with the traffic management measures in place, including moving cones and taking down signs.

"A member of the public has recently suffered an injury as a consequence of this and we urge members of the community to please keep in mind that it is illegal to tamper with traffic management measures.

"Doing so puts our workforce and other members of the public at risk.

"Howard Civil Engineering and Bradford Council would like to thank those who are driving safely through the junction.

"Your continued patience and understanding as we undertake improvement works are greatly appreciated."

In the past fortnight, work rerouting water mains has continued, and a significant amount of work has been done on the retaining wall next to Farmfoods.

Workers have continued with work to create the new P-loop road but the recent bad weather has slowed progress. Work installing kerbs has also been delayed as materials are in short supply due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the next two weeks, work on water mains and P-loop will continue and landscaping work around Farmfoods will begin, and adaptations around New Line Retail Park will also be started.

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Anger after traffic cones moved at Greengates junction - Bradford Telegraph and Argus