On Dec. 21, 2016, the National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) named the Walong to Marcel 2nd Track project by Granite Construction as the 2016 Small Project of the Year.
Granite Construction was awarded the project by Union Pacific Railroad, which included clearing, excavation, embankment, drill and shoot rock, rock anchors, storm drain culverts, headwall structures, and sub ballast to create approximately one mile of roadbed for a second mainline track. Additionally, six 48-inch steel pipes were bored and jacked under the live track to facilitate drainage flow.
NRC says "the Granite Construction project team faced unique challenges and rose to the occasion. The existing topography was very steep with a tunnel in the middle of the existing single track segment. Instead of widening the tunnel to create room for the second track, dirt and rock were excavated to create the second track alignment around the tunnel."
"Additionally, the project was located in an Extreme Fire Danger Class area. Extensive precautions were taken, including performing Fire Risk Assessments several times a day and adjusting as needed and, as a result of their efforts, no fires broke out. There were no delays or impacts to train traffic, no injuries occurred, and the project was completed on time and under budget."
Granite Construction will be honored on Wednesday, January 11 at the 2017 NRC Conference in Boca Raton, Fla.