Project Summary
In 2025, The Montgomery County Engineer and the City of Franklin plan to remove a 790-foot long, 15-foot high retaining wall along Dayton Cincinnati Pike (N. Dixie Highway in Warren County) that straddles the Montgomery-Warren County line. The 125-year old retaining wall is located between the roadway and the Great Miami River, and the Great Miami River Recreational Trail extends along the base of the wall. The large concrete retaining wall was constructed in approximately 1897 to support an interurban railroad line routed between the Miami & Erie Canal and the Great Miami River.
Large sections of the wall have cracked, separated, and fallen onto the Great Miami River Recreational Trail below. A conceptual design study commissioned in 2023 concluded that the wall is structurally unstable, in poor condition, and not suitable for rehabilitation. The study evaluated two post-removal alternatives: replacing the existing wall with a new retaining wall, and realigning Dayton Cincinnati Pike to reduce or eliminate the need for a retaining wall. The study estimated that the cost to realign the roadway would be approximately two-thirds of the cost to construct a new retaining wall.
The proposed roadway realignment project will reconstruct approximately 1,100 feet of Dayton Cincinnati Pike on an easterly-shifted alignment to allow removal of the existing retaining wall. Lane and shoulder widths will be upgraded to current design standards, all guardrail within the project limits will be replaced, and a new culvert across Dayton Cincinnati Pike near the northern project limit will be installed as part of the new roadway section.
Dayton Cincinnati Pike will be closed for approximately seven and a half months to complete the required utility relocations, remove the existing retaining wall, embankment, and pavement, and reconstruct the roadway and drainage system. Project costs will be shared by the two owning agencies, with approximately 57% of the project construction funded by the City of Franklin and 43% funded by Montgomery County.
This 1918 photo shows the man-made reservoir that existed on the Great Miami River following construction of the Franklin Hydraulic in 1870. The Chautauqua resort was located on the west side of the river, with interurban passenger rail service provided on the east side and a pedestrian bridge crossing the river. The abandoned Miami & Erie Canal is visible in the foreground, adjacent to the single track traction line. The existing retaining wall is located below the timber train platform, and extends for approximately 790 feet where the canal and river converged at the Montgomery-Warren County line.
