This paper evaluates earth pressures recorded during the excavation of C.K.S Memorial Station of Hsintien Line of the Taipei Rapid Transit Systems. The main theme is on wall friction and vertical earth pressures. It can be demonstrated that the assumption normally adopted in the design of retaining structures for braced excavations that the vertical earth pressures equal to the overburden pressures could be erroneous if wall friction is considered. As a result, the vertical pressures on the active side are often over-estimated and those on the passive side under-estimated. Based on field measurements, it is appropriate for soft to medium stiff sites to assume that the angles of wall friction equal to the angles of internal friction of soils in computing the limiting active and passive earth pressures in designing retaining structures of braced excavations.