W. Currahee Street to see 4th remediation

As previously reported, the Stephens County Board of Commissioners recently voted and approved a bid awarding Hayward Baker Incorporated $2,163,458 to complete the West Currahee Street Slope Stabilization project, dependent on receiving funds from the State of Georgia. West Currahee Street underwent remediation in 2009, 2013, and 2015.

During the repairs in 2013, the culvert was extended, curb and gutter installed and a new catch basin was put in place to remedy the slope; however, while investigating the slope a void was found in the slope, which resulted in the large void being filled with concrete, possibly compromising the 10-inch water main under the added lane to the south.

In 2015, the east slop failed again, due to several days of rainfall. During observations in 2015, it was noticed that the stream entering the culvert on the north side of the road was not exiting the culvert on the south side of the road. In addition, fractures in the floors and walls of the culvert at both tie points where the culvert structure was extended were found.

It was soon discovered that the concrete mass used to remedy the void in the slope from 2013 had been found in the east shoulder and partially under the outside lane, which prompted the county to close the lane.

In 2017, the County engaged NOVA to provide geotechnical engineering consulting services for the W. Currahee Street Slop Stability Evaluation project.

Upon the completion of the evaluation, NOVA provided the county with three remediation plans

The county selected the TECCO System, from the suggested plans, which is a slope stabilization system that uses high-tensile steel wire mesh in combination with a soil nailing system to manage slope instability; it can be used in rock or soil slopes and is typically utilized on very steep slopes.

HBI was the most familiar with TECCO. HBI intends to relocate the water line from the east lane to the west lane; remove the east shoulder lane to allow for regrading of the slope; regrade slope by moving the top of the slope to approximately 5-feet off the east lane and continue to regrade the slope for approximately 20-vertical feet; they would then install a Soil Nail and Tecco Mesh System for permanent stabilization of the slope.

HBI notes in its bid proposal that the slope has experienced a significant failure and continues to exhibit signs of continual failure; which, if additional slope failure causes the project to be terminated, HBI would be compensated for work completed to date.

WNEG News will provide continued updates at the County moves forward with stabilizing the slope.