Work continues on the removal and rebuilding of the damaged retainer wall along Highway 441 in Demorest.
State transportation department contractor Vertical Earth spent this past week demolishing the crumbling wall. The next step is for the city of Demorest to replace water meters and reinstall residential service lines from those meters. That will begin early Monday morning, June 5, and should be completed by the end of the day, according to city officials.
On Tuesday, June 6, Windstream will be setting a new utility pole for their internet lines in that area.
‘Sneak peek’ at new wall
Demorest City Manager Mark Musselwhite gave Now Habersham a sneak peek at what the new wall will look like.
“It is to look like real granite where it will have different shapes and cuts to look like cracks,” he says. “This is the first time this method has been used by the DOT in Georgia.”
A company out of North Carolina does this type of work nationwide. Musselwhite explained that the company had to set up several casts for DOT to test. He adds the wall is “going to be unique.” He says the lighter section of the cast is what will be installed as the new wall.
Work on the wall will continue to cause traffic disruptions in the downtown Demorest area. To avoid delays, city officials recommend drivers use alternate routes until the work is completed.
