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Retaining Wall to be Rebuilt
Written by Robert Lebowitz
, Riverdale Review
On the heels of the completion of the retaining wall along Riverdale Avenue, the City will soon begin a new major construction project in Riverdale.

The project will take place on Johnson Avenue and Irwin Avenue from Kappock Street to West 230th Street and at the Johnson Avenue wall 300 feet north of Edsall Avenue. Construction will typically last from 7 AM to 4 PM on weekdays and will occur in stages to minimize disruption and inconvenience to residents. Still, restrictions are necessary in order to complete this work.
The goal of the estimated nine-month project will be to install a new sewer, gas mains, sidewalk and curbs. Additionally, crews will work on areas of the retaining wall that need replacement.

"The reason we are beginning this project now is that we just completed the retaining wall project, and we didn't want to have two projects going on at the same time," said Elizabeth Harris, a spokesperson for the Department of Design and Construction (DDC).

The DDC has stated that although pedestrian access will be maintained at all times, vehicular access, parking, and driveway access may need to be temporarily restricted, and some bus stops and routes may be moved or changed during the course of the construction. Signs and directions will be posted informing residents of these changes.

The DDC also states that some water disruptions may occur during the course of the project.

"Water may be discolored by sediment that has built up in older pipes," the department advises. "Even if no construction is performed in front of your building, the process of shutting down the pipes can result in discoloration. If this occurs, run only cold water until it appears clear."

Still, the DDC guarantees that local residents will be given written notice informing them by the afternoon of the day before service interruption.

For the last couple of years, the DDC has been preoccupied in Riverdale with the rebuilding of the retaining wall on West 232nd Street between Riverdale and Irwin Avenues. After the wall collapsed during a construction accident in 2002, numerous delays extended the project, much to the consternation of local public officials and of drivers who were prevented from traveling southbound down Riverdale Avenue. The project was finally completed this past June, and Riverdale Avenue was reopened once again to two-way traffic.