Central Falls retaining wall work begins Jan. 2

posted on: 12/28/2018

Work to reconstruct the Central Falls retaining wall will begin Jan. 2, 2019. Beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 2, Central Avenue will be restricted to one lane from the Central Avenue Bridge to Orchard Street. In addition, eight parking spaces on the bridge will be unavailable. These traffic and parking restrictions are necessary for crews to move and store equipment, and will remain in place for the duration of the restoration work. Sidewalks and crosswalks in the area will remain open.

The contractor, George R. Cairns and Sons, Inc. of Windham, expects to conclude work sometime in March.

The City Council recently approved the $1.1 million project, which addresses safety concerns related to the wall’s condition and integrity. The large granite blocks, which have shifted over time, date back to the early 1800s. The blocks were originally the foundation of a former mill building and not intended to serve as a retaining wall.

The restoration work will involve removing the granite blocks and replacing them with interlocking, precast concrete blocks. The concrete blocks will be able to withstand additional pressure.

Crews will mobilize beginning Jan. 2. Work on site, including demolition of the wall, will begin the week of Jan. 7. More than 2,000 cubic yards of material will removed from the site and trucked away. That work will continue throughout January.

In February, the contractor anticipates laying the new foundation, with the new wall being in place sometime in March.

Crews will return in the spring for landscaping work.

For more information, contact Community Services at 516-6450.