Embankment (earthworks)

An embankment is a raised wall, bank or mound made of earth or stones, that are used to hold back water or carry a roadway.

A road, railway line, or canal is normally raised onto an embankment made of compacted soil (typically clay or rock-based) to avoid a change in level required by the terrain, the alternatives being either to have an unacceptable change in level or detour to follow a contour.

A cutting is used for the same purpose where the land is originally higher than required.

Embankments need to be constructed using non-aerated and waterproofed, compacted (or entirely non-porous) material to provide adequate support to the formation and a long-term level surface with stability.

[1] To intersect an embankment without a high flyover, a series of tunnels can consist of a section of high tensile strength viaduct (typically built of brick and/or metal) or pair of facing abutments for a bridge.

A diagram showing an embankment
Disbanded West Somerset Mineral Railway embankment near Gupworthy, UK
Cream-colored concrete abutment marks a gap in an embankment and gives vertical support to the dark red trestle bridge , and to the fill of the bridge approach embankment. To reduce the metal cost of the bridge here it is further supported by erecting metal piers.