City Discusses Plan to Address Accelerated Hillside Movement Above Riverside Drive

CINCINNATI – The City of Cincinnati held a press conference at City Hall Thursday morning to discuss emergency actions needed to address earth movement along a portion of the hillside above Riverside Road in the East End neighborhood.

• WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE BELOW

The City announced it has been investigating the area near the intersection of Riverside Road and Hazen Street for several weeks. Based on evidence from the geological testing, the City has made the preliminary decision to build a 1,200-foot retaining wall on the hillside between Hazen and Vance streets.

There are various underground utility lines in the area that feed water, sewer and gas services to several nearby neighborhoods including Downtown. This is part of what makes the project so critical. However, there are no immediate risks to the public.

“The emergency concerns that are the subject of the City’s procurement relate to critical water and sewer infrastructure,” according to a memo City Manager Harry Black sent to the Mayor and City Council on Thursday. “The City is aware of no immediate risk to residents, pedestrians or vehicles. Nonetheless, the City is actively sharing its geotechnical data with other utility providers, including Duke Energy and the adjacent railroad, in order that they may assess the potential impacts of this slide on their assets and any resulting risks to the public.”

The City has placed various inclinometers on the hillside to collect additional data and provide a better understanding of the extent and behavior of the eastern slide area. Additional actions may be required based on the results of the ongoing testing.

“The City has hired a geotechnical consulting firm, Terracon Consultants, Inc., to assist the Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) in the evaluation of the related slope stability issues and to advise on necessary mitigation strategies,” the City Manager wrote.

An initial cost estimate ranges between $5 million to $10 million, but that number is relative to the final scope of the project. Resources from the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) and Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) will be the used to pay the majority of the cost.

The City has been communicating with Hamilton County about the matter.

“The City’s emergency action is primarily driven by the potential impacts of the slide on public infrastructure, but the proposed public improvement project will also benefit other assets in the vicinity of Riverside Drive, including utility providers, a railroad, and private property owners in the vicinity of the proposed retaining wall,” the memo continues.

Construction of the wall will take about 12 weeks to complete. The City will determine an exact start date after receiving consent from all private property owners affected by the work.

There are no expected road closures associated with the project.

WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE ON RIVERSIDE ROAD HILLSIDE UPDATE

Riverside Drive Hillside Movement Immediate Mitigation Action Announcement from CitiCable on Vimeo.