Cambridge council approves plan for Blair Road retaining wall repair

Cambridge council has moved forward with a staff recommended plan to fix a century old retaining wall on Blair Road.

The wall, located adjacent to 45 Blair Rd., is 62 metres long and has been described by city staff as in “poor condition.” A staff report notes the wall has several large pieces missing, vegetation growth, unsound mortar and signs of bulging, sliding and rotation of the material.

Council decided on an option that will have a cast-in place concrete wall put in place while the old wall is replaced. The project will cost $1.56 million dollars up front, and then another $1.62 million over 75 years for upkeeping costs.

Jamie Croft, the manager of infrastructure engineering for the City of Cambridge, said they are looking to recreate the wall with the same material.

“We haven’t decided the quarry or anything like that,” said Croft. “We would want to match the type of stone: limestone, and the hope would be it would be local.”

The wall is owned by the city and is within the Dickson Hill Heritage Conservation District. A two-storey granite house that was a part of the property with the wall was built in 1857 by Galt Lawyer John Miller. Staff notes it was unclear if the wall was built at the same time of the house. The year 1908 is carved into the wall, which they believe is when a major restoration was completed.

A portion of Blair Road will be closed for about six months, either fully or down to one lane when construction begins.

A date for the repairs has not been chosen yet.