A jogger passes by a closed portion of Frisco Trail that suffered severe flood damage April 2011.

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

Repairs to a heavily damaged section of Frisco Trail are set to begin this week just south of the Center Street trail crossing.

Heavy flooding caused a large portion of the streamside slope leading up to the trail to be washed away last April. As a result, large pieces of the path’s asphalt tore apart and fell into the creek.

Since then, a semi-permanent fence has surrounded the damage, effectively closing the southbound lane from trail traffic.

Repair work, which begins Monday, June 18, will require the closure of one lane of Gregg Avenue from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the duration of the project. A temporary gravel trail will be constructed as a detour to allow the trail connection to remain open to trail users.

The project includes removing fallen vegetation and compromised soil from the area between the trail and Tanglewood Branch. Crews with Prime Contracting, Inc. will then construct gabion baskets with native brown sandstone along the east edge of the creek to establish a solid base to reconstruct the hillside above. A new retaining wall matching the existing wall will then be constructed above the new structural hillside and a new asphalt trail will be placed above the wall. A new drainage swale and storm drainage inlet will also be installed on the east side of the trail to prevent the water from crossing the trail and wall.

According to a city news release, FEMA will reimburse the city with 75 percent of eligible expenses. The Arkansas Department of Energy Management will then reimburse 12.5 percent, leaving the city’s portion at 12.5 percent of eligible expenses.

The trail repair is expected to be completed by the end of August.