With the majority of the METRONET Yanchep Rail Extension Project being built in a cutting below natural ground level, keeping earth back from the rail corridor is no small feat but one that’s achieved with more than 6kms of retaining walls.

NEWest Alliance Area Manager Elizabeth Ward is leading the complex works, drawing on her 20 years’ experience as a civil engineer to overcome the challenging geotechnical conditions.

“With around 14.5kms of rail to construct, ground conditions vary from one location to another so the way we design and construct the retaining walls needs to be bespoke,” Elizabeth said.

Once the walls are complete and the team have excavated earth to the new ground level, works to install overhead line equipment, ballast, sleepers and the rail itself will commence.