In order to increase rail traffic capacity, a rail line owner added an additional track adjacent to an existing main line along the Missouri River near Gasconade, MO. The new track was placed on the existing railroad embankment between the existing track and the Missouri River, requiring measures to improve the stability of existing embankment slopes. The initial design included permanent soldier pile retaining walls along portions of the project alignment and jet-grout 'shear pins" in other locations to provide the required slope stability. Due to site access issues, the contractor proposed using driven HP 310x79 (HP12x53) piles as an "equal or better" alternate to the jet-grouted columns.