Porter Square T-Wall

Porter Square – Somerville and Cambridge
$2.5M
MBTA
Transit/Rail ConstructionStructures Maintenance

Project Overview

Project Overview:

Rehabilitation and reconstruction of a failing retaining wall and sidewalk adjacent to the Commuter Rail.  Construction activities included implementation of a traffic management plan, demolition of an existing sidewalk, installation of sheet pile SOE structure, installation of a precast concrete retaining wall, installation of a moment slab and protective barrier and construction of a new sidewalk.

Key Challenges Overcome:

  • Working adjacent to an active railroad.
  • Working expeditiously to minimize disruption to the public.
  • Working through COVID restrictions.

Interesting Facts / Figures

SPS worked with the designers of the retaining wall to dramatically reduce the original schedule by proposing and implementing precast retaining wall units as an alternative to cast-in-place concrete.