The intersection of Hwy 12 and Hwy 739 just south of Ethel, Mississippi is not only home to a new Dollar General store, but is also the location of an innovative retaining wall system that is one of the first of its kind in the state of Mississippi. Designed by JC Hines and Associates in the fall of 2015 to support the parking area in front of the store, the Redi-Rock Positive Connection (PC) retaining wall system utilizes wet-cast, precast Redi-Rock modular retaining wall facing units and 12-inch wide strips of PVC coated polyester geogrid that pass through a vertical core slot in the wall units to create a unique type of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) retaining wall.
Although, not exceedingly tall by MSE wall standards at 13.5 feet, the Redi-Rock PC wall is situated immediately adjacent to a storm water detention area that provides temporary surface drainage storage between the Dollar General site and Mississippi Highway 12. The Redi-Rock wall is designed for the regular rising and falling flood waters at its face through the installation of free-draining granular backfill throughout the entirety of its reinforced zone. The result is a system that is well suited to its use in a critical water application.
Construction of the 2,024-square foot retaining wall was completed in 2016 by Mike Rozier Construction of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The Redi-Rock retaining wall units were manufactured by MMC Materials, Inc. of Jackson, Mississippi.