Major road repairs at the intersection of SR 104 and NE 195th St will close 195th for two weeks

During September 2016, WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation) will be doing an emergency repair project on the rock retaining wall that failed on the southeast corner of SR 104 (Ballinger Way) and NE 195th Street. 

If left unrepaired, the exposed dirt face will erode, eventually undermining the sidewalk and the southeast corner of the intersection.

The wall, which is made up of rocks arranged in large wire cages, pulled away from the road embankment leaving an exposed vertical dirt face along NE 195th Street.

The damage was discovered in January of this year.

The rock (gabion) wall pulled away
from the embankment
Photo courtesy WSDOT

The collapse also severed an extension of the culvert that carries Ballinger Creek underneath NE 195th St. 

This project will require a 16 day closure of NE 195th Street so Ballinger Creek can be diverted and piped over the road while crews work in the creek bed to build a new wall.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to occur in September 2016 and be completed by October 2016.

Close up of damage. The wire cages
filled with rocks are known as gabions.
Photo courtesy WSDOT

Why is it called a gabion?
A gabion is a cage or box filled with rocks, concrete or sand that's frequently used in road building.

A gabion rock wall is a retaining wall made of these stone-filled cages that are stacked and tied together.

Nearby residents may hear construction noise, particularly during the day.

When the project is complete, there will be a new retaining wall that prevents additional erosion under NE 195th St and, potentially, Ballinger Way.

--WSDOT