Shoring work nearly done at River Towers; other two buildings also will need repairs

County officials, the structural engineer, the contractor and River Towers officials met Wednesday to discuss actions underway to stabilize the columns that caused a partial collapse on Sunday, but it is still too early to know when displaced residents can move back in.

Additionally, the portico columns in the River Towers buildings at 6621 and 6641 Wakefield Drive are suffering from the same deterioration that caused the 6631 building’s issues, according to Fairfax County Building Official Brian Foley. The damage in those buildings is not as bad, however, and none of those residents have to relocate, Foley said.

“[6641 and 6621] are not as serious, but they are in need of repairs,” Foley said.

Residents of 32 units in the 6631 building have not been able to return to their homes, except to gather some belongings, since the collapse on Sunday. Until the shoring work is completed at the building, it is to soon to know when they will be able to come back, according to Foley.

A message posted late Wednesday on the River Towers website said that the majority of shoring is already done at 6631. Foley agreed, saying the shorting work is moving forward very quickly.

Minkoff Company, Inc. is the lead contractor for the repair work being done at River Towers. Thomas Downey, Inc., is the structural engineering company.

The shoring work being done to the 6631 building is just the first step in the process of repairing the damage done by the collapse, which occurred when columns buckled from years of deterioration caused by moisture. Scaffolding will need to be attached to the main structure of the building, and once that is done crews can begin preparing for the complex task of lifting the building.

“This is going to be a very huge effort,” Foley said, noting that all 12 columns under the overhang in 6631 will need to be jacked up 2-4 inches.