The Lake County Board of Commissioners declared an emergency Friday after a roughly 60-foot section of the Madison Avenue retaining wall failed near the Woodworth Avenue intersection, prompting a road closure and an immediate effort to hire consultants and contractors to stabilize and repair the site.

Lake County Engineer Alan Exley told the board the most recent collapse has created “a very large void behind the wall” and that the site is unsafe for the public. “We have implemented a closure at that location,” Exley said. “This allows my office to move quickly to determine, with the assistance of consultants, what we need to do to protect the safety of the public at this area and what may happen going forward.”

The board voted to declare the project an emergency to allow the engineer’s office to prepare plans and specifications and execute contracts needed to repair the wall. The clerk recorded unanimous approval by the commissioners present.

Exley urged residents to obey the closure and detour signage and not to enter the closed area. He said county crews have provided public notice and that the posted detour uses Casement Road to U.S. 20 to Bohall Road. “We need them to not go into the closed areas and try to look at this themselves. It is not safe to go in that area,” he said, noting trucks should follow State Street in Painesville north to U.S. 20 and then to Bohall to avoid narrow local streets.

The emergency declaration allows county staff to solicit consultant assistance and, subject to funding, to engage a contractor to perform immediate work to reopen the roadway as soon as practicable. Exley thanked county staff and the prosecutor’s office for helping place the item on the agenda quickly.

No timeline for repair or a cost estimate was given during the meeting. The engineer said the wall “has moved significantly” and that additional assessment will follow to determine scope and costs. The board did not set a specific funding source during the session; decisions about spending and contracting will come after the consultant assessment and identification of available funds.

The county has closed the affected portion of Madison Avenue at Woodworth Avenue and posted the detour to minimize public risk. The engineer’s office said it will return to the commissioners with recommendations for contracting and funding once consultants complete the assessment.

The emergency resolution was adopted during the commissioners’ regular meeting; the clerk recorded the ayes of the commissioners present.