Retaining wall with element of green

Using TenCate geosynthetics, a retaining wall has been erected in the project to widen the railway line between Hamilton and Toronto (Canada). A new robust slope has been constructed using TenCate Miragrid®. Application of this material included an element of green: the full restoration of the habitat of Sunfish Pond, an adjacent pond with rare types of fish.

TenCate Miragrid® is covered with sand

The existing railway on the 16-metre-high railway embankment lacked sufficient room for expansion, but widening threatened to disturb the natural habitat and the fish stock of Sunfish Pond. The solution: the combination of geosynthetics and a sheet pile wall 5 metres high and 180 metres long. On top of this wall, a slope reinforced with TenCate Miragrid® was constructed against the existing slope.

Before the construction the vegetation on the existing slope had to go. A blessing in disguise: it enabled the Botanical Gardens to replace non-indigenous plants with native plant species. In this way the natural habitat in this area has been restored and improved.

The retained slope is ready for a third railway track to be installed

Furthermore, the project demonstrates to the parties concerned how, thanks to TenCate Geosynthetics, ‘green engineering’ can produce positive economic results.

The retained wall soon looked very green again