Retaining wall collapses at West Greenes new elementary

ROGERSVILLE At many of its meetings during the past year, West Greene School Board addressed issues regarding the design and construction of the retaining wall that was being built as part of the new elementary school project.

Its concerns were apparently warranted.

The wall, which runs behind the new elementary center, partially collapsed last Thursday night, district Superintendent Thelma Szarell said.

The district noticed cracks and separations in the wall for the last several weeks, she said.

The board met last Thursday night partly to discuss the matter with representatives of the project architect, The Hayes Design Group, and the construction manager, URS Corp., she said.

Sometime through the night, it collapsed, she said.

The district is now trying to determine what caused the wall to collapse, Szarell said. It doesnt appear soil behind the wall moved, which was one of the districts earlier concerns, but the wall seems to have failed at its base, she said.

Engineers do not believe the wall will collapse any further.

It doesnt appear to be any danger to the new school, Szarell said.

The new three-story elementary center was constructed in an area that required excavation of a large hillside. According to an early design drawing, the wall stretches 761 feet behind the new building and at its highest point reaches 31 feet.

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Retaining wall collapses at West Greenes new elementary