A contractor needed to add to an existing petroleum line at a location that was approximately 16-ft from a set of railroad tracks. The project required an excavation of 16-ft x 12-ft and 16-ft deep in what the contractor had classified as a Type C-60 soil consisting of sand and a little clay. The proximity to the railroad tracks was the obvious issue that needed to be addressed with the contractor’s protective system. The contractor met with NTS to discuss the project with the desire to provide its crew with a safe and effective protective system that would hopefully not require the railroad to be shut down while the project was ongoing.

After reviewing the various options for the project, the contractor selected a slide rail system for the project. The slide rail system has gained increasing adoption over the last few years as a cost-effective alternative to conventional steel sheeting on projects adjacent to railroads. Slide rail systems can be installed in a “dig and push” method that provides soil support through excavation which helps to prevent soil raveling that could undermine adjacent structures, such as the railroad tracks. The project was the contractor’s first exposure to a slide rail system and the contractor came away very impressed with the system. The system installed quickly and efficiently and provided a very effective means of shoring the excavation.