LOUISIVLLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Residents in Fairdale have been without a road for nearly a year since part of it washed away due to flooding after storms moved through Louisville, and now it seems they will be without it a little longer.
In his weekly District 13 update Friday, Louisville Metro Councilman Dan Seum Jr. said the geotechnical report that was needed before any repairs could be made to Mitchell Hill Road, near Top Hill Road, is now completed. However, more work is needed before construction can begin.
For the geotechnical report, engineers studied the soil and ground conditions to understand how the flooding affected the roadway's stability. The report spells out two possible ways to fix Mitchell Hill Road.
To read the geotechnical report, click here.
Options to fix the road
One way, which is the preferred method due to less disruption, is to build a retaining wall to stabilize the embankment. Road surface, guardrails and drainage would be reconstructed. Small sections of two nearby properties would be needed for this option. This option would cost about $1.3 million.
The other option reshapes the embankment, stabilizing it by more natural means. Rock and compacted soil would be added to the bottom of the slope to rebuild and flatten the embankment, making the hill less steep. However, flattening the embankment requires extending the slope into a residential home, which is not cost effective as they city would need to purchase it. This option is estimated to cost about $1.6 million.
Next steps
The Consulting firm, Strand Associates, who conducted the geotechnical survey, will prepare the final repair design, making sure the repairs to the road can last through future storms.
However, before construction can begin, the City of Louisville will need to buy a small portion of nearby land for the roadway repair. Officials are still figuring out how much land will need to be purchased.
Once the necessary land is acquired, and the repair design is finalized, construction will start, estimated to begin and be completed by late 2026.
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