[ back ]
No 'cheap fix,' sliding road may be vacated
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 04, 2012)
No 'cheap fix,' sliding road may be vacated
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Chardon Township may vacate another section of Wisner Road after a recent landslide left the roadway essentially dangling over the Chagrin River.
In the incident that occurred about three weeks ago, a slab of earth slid from the edge of the roadway about 45 feet into the river. Trees that had lined the bank remained upright after the slide and created what officials described as an island in the river.
Township Trustees decided two weeks ago to visit the site before determining what, if any, fix might be appropriate. Last week, they agreed that any attempt at fixing the problem might beyond the township's means and would not last.
"That's not going to be a cheap fix," Trustee Michael Brown said. "We could put a $100,000 wall there, and it wouldn't last."
The $100,000 wall is one possible solution proposed by the Geauga County Engineer's Office. It would require sinking I-beams into the earth alongside the road and installing a wall affixed to the beams.
Trustees also looked at less expensive fixes, such as shifting the road to the west and dumping rocks or gabion baskets, with rocks wrapped in wire, to shore up the bank.
Mr. Brown said it's not the first time that landslides have occurred in that section of the road. He said that shifting the road would involve taking out large trees along a steep hillside.
Officials said vacating the road just to the south of the slide may be the best option for the township.
"It's probably not a bad idea," Trustee Steven Borawski said.
Trustees tentatively scheduled a Jan. 7 meeting at the site and planned to invite a representative from the county engineer's office and an affected property owner to attend.
There is a private driveway to a home almost directly across from the threatened roadway. Property to the north of the slide is owned by Holden Arboretum.
Trustees said they may assist the lone resident with realigning the private driveway to the south in order to maintain access to his property.
"I don't have a problem spending a few bucks to help turn the driveway," Trustee Charles Strazinsky Jr. said.
Geauga County Engineer Robert Phillips said vacating the road is a process that ultimately is determined by County Commissioners.
He said the most recent section threatened by the landslide is in worse shape now, because the river is chewing away at what is left of the bank. He said the slide removed any vegetation that may have served to anchor the bank. If rains continue and the river swells, it's like to begin eroding the roadway, he said.
"No one is anxious to spend a whole lot of money for one driveway," Mr. Phillips said.
Before considering vacating that section of Wisner Road, Mr. Phillips said, county officials will finalize a vacation of a section that lies north of that area. Officials have been looking at vacating that portion, which was washed away by the Chagrin River about 35 years ago. "We'll take care of that first," he said.
[ back ]
