Retaining Wall Contractor in New Westminster

New Westminster, the original capital of British Columbia, sits on a dramatic bluff above the Fraser River. The city's topography — steep streets dropping from the historic downtown to the Quay and the riverfront — creates significant retaining wall demand throughout the residential areas. From the heritage homes on the upper plateau to the newer developments on the river side, retaining walls are everywhere in New Westminster.

We work in New Westminster on a full range of retaining wall projects, from small residential garden walls to structural walls retaining steep property edges adjacent to the city's many staircase streets.

New Westminster's Unique Terrain

New Westminster's most distinctive terrain feature is the steep escarpment between the upper plateau (where most of the historic residential development sits) and the river-level areas. Many properties on this escarpment have retaining walls that are structural necessities — without them, the slope would erode and undermine the buildings above.

Soil conditions in New Westminster vary significantly with position on the slope. Upper plateau areas have relatively stiff glacial deposits. The escarpment itself exposes these deposits in cut sections, and runoff from the upper plateau concentrates along drainage paths on the slope. Lower areas near the Fraser have soft alluvial deposits with high groundwater.

We assess these conditions as part of every New Westminster project — particularly important on the escarpment where site-specific drainage and foundation conditions can be very different from one property to the next.