Lincoln Woods, NH Riverbank Stabilization & Trail Restoration

In 2011, Hurricane Irene severely impacted the East Branch of the Pemigewasset riverbank and the Lincoln Woods Trail. The US Forest Service took time to design the project and ultimately execute the contracting process in the summer of 2025. In 2026, Fall Line Construction completed critical slope stabilization and trail reconstruction work as a subcontractor to the prime contractor. The project addressed significant flood damage to the riverbank and the loss of a popular hiking trail used by summer tourists.

Fall Line Construction utilized two Hitachi 350 excavators, including a GPS equipped machine working in the river, along with two Morooka tracked trucks to transport erosion control rock to the limited access site. The riverbank stabilization consisted of placing seven foot rock along the toe of exposed ledge slope, with the larger stones drilled and pinned to the ledge to provide long term protection against future flood events. Above the foundation, large diameter erosion control rock was placed and built up approximately 20 feet to reinforce the bank and support the hiking trail above.

Due to the site’s location on an old narrow gauge railroad track bed, equipment selection and material transportation were critical to completing the work efficiently and minimizing damage to the existing trail and historic railroad ties. Fall Line Construction deployed a rented Hitachi ZX350 excavator from Chappell Tractor and subsequently purchased a Hitachi ZX50U mini excavator from the same dealer. Rubber tracked dump trucks from Morooka handled the delivery of the materials along the railbed. These machines rotate 360° and allowed for a change travel direction on the narrow trail with less ground pressure and without three point turns. The rotating function also eased unloading the machines.