When you use a sidewalk, you probably don’t think about what’s beneath it. However, project engineers must consider how the terrain will support the weight of the concrete needed to build a sidewalk. Alongside southbound Turkey Lake Road, crews are installing a gravity wall to help support the new sidewalk under construction.

So, what is a gravity wall? A gravity wall is a heavy, self-supporting retaining structure. It is commonly made up of mass concrete, stone, or segmented blocks that are heavy enough to hold back soil slopes or grade changes. It doesn’t require steel rebar, tiebacks, or deep anchors to remain upright or hold the soil behind it in place.

A gravity wall is used when a sidewalk sits next to an elevated lawn, a slope, or a roadway embankment. The wall also helps with drainage in the area, preventing soil from eroding or washing away around the sidewalk.

The gravity wall for the sidewalk along southbound Turkey Lake Road will run about 400 feet north of Lake Marie Way and about 250 feet south. The wall will be built to the height of the sidewalk and will include a handrail to provide more protection for pedestrians.

To stay up to date on construction activities in this area, sign up for advance construction alerts at I4Beyond.com/Alerts.