In late 2022, a portion of an aging stacked cobblestone retaining wall in the heart of Port Carling failed, prompting safety concerns. Tatham was engaged to conduct an emergency inspection and immediately recommended closure of the adjacent sidewalk to protect pedestrians.

Our team undertook both preliminary and detailed design work, with construction scheduled for 2024. The project presented numerous challenges, including the wall’s location between an active roadway and a steep embankment supporting a commercial building, as well as the presence of overhead power lines and underground utilities.

Key design considerations included limiting construction vibrations, selecting equipment suitable for the confined space, and ensuring continuous traffic flow by maintaining both travel lanes. Aesthetic integration with the surrounding streetscape was also critical.

The selected solution was a structural steel sheet pile retaining wall with tie-back anchors for stability, finished with a stacked stone façade to complement the historic look of the area and nearby retaining walls.