
In March of 2014, ZGA was contacted to conduct an emergency evaluation of an apparently failing solider pile retaining wall. We were informed that wedge plates, which hold tieback anchors in tension, were apparently launching off the wall an impacting an adjacent apartment complex. Our initial evaluation determined that 38 of the wall’s 78 tieback anchors were experiencing failure at the connection point between the tieback anchors and steel soldier pile beams. Initial observations also indicated the tops of the solider piles had experienced up to 8 inches of lateral deformation! ZGA worked in conjunction with a local structural engineering firm and contractor to quickly develop emergency repair recommendations. The emergency repair consisted of splicing new tieback strands on to the failed anchors and restressing. The emergency repair stabilized the wall. Once the wall was stabilized, we continued work with the structural engineering firm to develop a permanent stabilization solution. Construction of the permanent solution was completed in March of 2016.