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City outlines emergency fixes for failing Houston Street retaining wall
Summary
City staff described a multi-section failure of a rock retaining wall along Houston Street, presented a soldier-pile stabilization plan, noted funding shortfalls and said crews will test-drill this week to refine costs and design.
City of Lead officials warned the commission on May 19 that a multi-section rock retaining wall along Houston Street has failed in several places and poses a safety and access risk to nearby properties.
The update came during the meeting’s public works report from the city building inspector, who said two sections of the wall toward the east and a section near a residence have collapsed and that the city has temporarily restricted traffic and installed Jersey barriers to reduce risk.
The inspector said a likely repair is a soldier-pile wall: “One solution involves constructing a soldier pile wall in front of that failing rock wall,” and described driving painted steel I-beams into the ground, installing treated lagging and backfilling with clean rock or sand to restore drainage and stability. He said the city had received preliminary quotes for steel I-beams from Keller Drilling and for treated lagging from Runnings and Veil Bouche, and that crews plan to pre-drill test holes this week to check for bedrock.
The city noted there is no water line on Houston Street, so a previously used grant source is not available; the retaining-wall fund currently holds $18,000 but staff said the full repair will likely exceed that balance and that they are still identifying funding. The building inspector said if crews hit bedrock the plan and cost could change: “If we hit bedrock, then that is gonna, maybe change the plan or definitely impact the cost.”
Commissioners and staff discussed mitigation steps and sequencing. The inspector said the city will prioritize the easternmost failed section and the portion adjacent to a house where the slope is encroaching on private property; commissioners noted some traffic and parking impacts for local residents. Staff said they hope to complete the work this summer but emphasized unknowns tied to drilling depth, potential need to dig into the roadway for an alternate anchoring approach and additional site costs such as tree removal and clean rock.
The commission asked staff to return with refined cost estimates and a funding plan once test-drill results are available. The city thanked the homeowner near the failure for cooperation while access and temporary protections remain in place.
