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City staff flags major Riverwalk bulkhead damage; short-term safety work underway
Summary
Winter storms and heavy rain exposed extensive undermining and cracking of the Riverwalk bulkhead; city closed the area, engaged GPI Engineering, and expects multi-option repair proposals with an estimated cost in the hundreds of thousands.
City staff reported a significant structural failure along the Riverwalk bulkhead after winter storms and a heavy rain event exposed longstanding tidal undermining, and the affected section is cordoned off while temporary stabilizing work proceeds.
Staff described the damage to the advisory board and said public works crews have been removing broken concrete and undermined fill while engineers evaluate short- and longer-term repair options. “You can see the massive cracking along the bulkhead,” staff said, and added that the river’s tidal range—about six feet daily—has contributed to long-term undermining.
GPI Engineering, the firm the city engaged for related riverfront work, inspected the site and provided a proposal the council authorized last week to begin immediate work. Staff said the engineers will propose a short-term fix and longer-term options, then return with cost and design alternatives; a survey crew is scheduled to start next week. Staff described common remedies such as driving vertical steel and backfilling with concrete but said they are seeking alternatives that are less visually intrusive (riprap boulders, terraced access, or living-shoreline elements) where feasible.
The city has cordoned off the area with a six-foot chain-link fence and warned the public the repair is neither simple nor inexpensive; staff said earlier estimates and discussion put the work in the “around half a million dollars” range, though final costs depend on the chosen solution and engineering findings. Staff asked the board for feedback on aesthetic and access choices before engineers finalize options.
Clarifying details: the city described daily tidal variation of about six feet, active removal of concrete by public works under engineer direction, a six-foot chain-link safety barrier in place, GPI Engineering leading the evaluation, a survey crew starting next week, and preliminary cost estimates discussed at about $500,000 (estimate subject to change after engineering and permitting).
