An upcoming High Street Wall stabilization project will soon go out for bids, Jim Thorpe Borough officials said during last week’s workshop meeting.

The major renovation effort is aimed at stabilizing the deteriorating wall and enhancing the visual appeal of the area.

Clint Davis from Entech Engineering presented the plans Thursday, outlining the construction process and answering questions from council members.

The current wall, which poses safety concerns due to its declining condition, will be replaced with a soil nail wall.

“We’re looking to put a soil nail wall, which is drilling a nail in the front of that existing wall at a 45-degree angle until we hit bedrock,” Davis said. “After that, there’ll be a rebar installed and grouted, and after that, there’ll be a wire mesh that goes over that existing wall.”

Jim Thorpe completed a similar project on a different section of the wall in 2017.

The visual aesthetics of the new wall were a key concern for council members.

“It’s going to look the same,” Davis said. “There will be a form liner on the upper portion of the wall to represent stone. The side facing the house on the lower side would be just shotcrete so it’s going to be rough and rugged.”

A guide rail, Davis said, would be added to protect the upper portion of the wall.

Jim Thorpe learned last year that it would receive $750,000 from the Commonwealth Financing Agency Multimodal Transportation Fund for the High Street improvements.

In a release last year, state Rep. Doyle Heffley said supporting infrastructure projects in a town such as Jim Thorpe is important given the amount of people who visit each year.

“Projects that improve our area are imperative to maintain a destination that is safe and accessible,” Heffley said. “I’m happy that these grant dollars will be used to preserve and maintain the historic integrity of Carbon County.”

Councilman Mike Yeastedt highlighted the borough’s willingness to utilize locally available resources if suitable including additional soil to help build landing pads for the equipment needed to complete the project.

“We could let you know if we might have something,” Yeastedt said.

Construction is expected to begin in April and conclude by the end of September. The bidding process will commence on Feb. 13 with council planning to award the contract on April 12.

Traffic disruptions are anticipated, and a closure of High Street is being considered to ensure safety.

“The communications center can get on to the sites like Google, etc. and put those road closures on there so that motorists know and are not routed in that direction,” Police Chief Joe Schatz said.