Residents question wall plan

Engineers are still in the planning stages of working on improvements to a retaining wall on Lake Avenue.

Grand Haven Project Manager Julie Beaton said the wall project is being designed by the Wade Trim engineering firm, and it is tentatively scheduled for construction in spring 2013.

Its budgeted for that and wed like to do it then, she said. We wanted to do it when Harbor Drive was done.

City officials say the wall is failing or has failed. Sand is washing out from behind it, threatening further erosion, and possibly leading to problems with the street and private property.

City Manager Pat McGinnis said the city has identified some safety and infrastructure improvements that could inflate the cost of the project beyond the estimated $300,000.

The project will be reviewed at the Oct. 15 City Council meeting, he said.

According to McGinnis, potential changes to the project include making visibility enhancements for motorists.

If theres room in the right of way, we could dig that hill back and improve sightlines, he said.

Visibility is currently limited for motorists traversing Lake Avenue around the wall.

McGinnis also noted that it may be a good time to make repairs to road and water lines in that area, and they'll consider decorative additions to the wall all of which would hike the project's cost.

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Residents question wall plan