Downbound lane of Claremont Access will stay closed

A stretch of the Claremont Access hit by a rockslide earlier this year will stay closed indefinitely.

City crews are working on a solution to the buckled retaining wall over the downbound lanes after it collapsed Feb. 22.

No one was hurt when dirt and debris flooded the road.

Keeping the lane closed provides a buffer space, says Darrell Smith, manager of road operations and maintenance for the city.

The wall at this point is stable and the exposed face is stable, Smith said. The most cost-effective way of making it safe is to keep that lane closed and separate the public from the base of the wall.

Smith says the Claremont Access is visually inspected more than once a week by crews.

He says tree growth on top of the barrier ultimately forced the collapse. It was built in the late 1960s.

The wall started taking a structural load it was never designed for, he said. Its meant to catch things that fall off the face of the cliff. Its not a retaining wall.

The trees have since been removed.

The city has designated a small group to develop ideas to address the broken barrier.

Continue reading here:
Downbound lane of Claremont Access will stay closed