Kentlands Retaining Wall Update
Five days after a portion of Quince Orchard Road was closed following the collapse of a retaining wall in Kentlands, the stretch of road reopened on April 4 in Gaithersburg.
“Quince Orchard Road was opened Friday afternoon after the contractor provided Jersey barriers along the edge of the roadway at Maryland State Highway’s request,” said Wes Burnette, Gaithersburg’s permits and inspections division chief. “Additionally, the city of Gaithersburg closed off the sidewalk at the nearest crosswalks so as to prevent pedestrians from having to traverse into Quince Orchard Road at the wall failure once the road was opened back up.”
According to Burnette, two contractors for the Kentlands Citizens Assembly (KCA) have added diversion berms, underground roof drains, plastic, and an earthen berm in an effort to prevent the subgrade behind the wall from becoming saturated during rainy weather like today.
“Additionally, the sidewalk closure, placement of Jersey barriers, and addition of a safety fence above the wall were added to prevent danger to the public should the existing fence, blocks, or soil fail further,” said Burnette in an email. “The KCA has a structural engineer and a geotechnical engineer finalizing an immediate design to stabilize and rebuild the portion of wall that failed, with an eye on a longer term analysis of the entire wall. The city of Gaithersburg is awaiting submittal of the proposed repair design from the KCA.”
According to Burnette, the contractor has also tightened the plastic against the wall to prevent the wind from getting underneath.
“The plastic was originally out from the wall a lot further at an angle which somewhat disguised how much the fence was drooping over the wall. Now that the plastic has been placed closer to the wall, the fence looks further away from the wall,” said Burnette, who noted that another safety fence was recently placed this area to keep passersby away from the top of the wall in this area.
Two Kentlands homeowners were asked to relocate while the work on the retaining wall is underway adjacent to their residences. The homeowners were told they can expect to move back into their homes in about six weeks.
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Kentlands Retaining Wall Update
Five days after a portion of Quince Orchard Road was closed following the collapse of a retaining wall in Kentlands, the stretch of road reopened on April 4 in Gaithersburg. “Quince Orchard Road was opened Friday afternoon after the contractor provided Jersey barriers along the edge of the roadway at Maryland State Highway’s request,” said […]
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