Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project progress update e-mail 02 04 2015
Phase 2 Construction Marches Along at Dulles
While ridership on Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project (Silver Line) continues to meet and exceed expectations since opening last summer, the pace of Phase 2 construction building. Most of the work continues to take place at Dulles Airport but work has also extended onto the Dulles International Airport Access Highway, Dulles Toll Road and Dulles Greenway.
The design-build contractor for Phase 2, Capital Rail Constructors, is focused on building approximately 200 piers to support the aerial guideway at Dulles.
The first girders, which provide horizontal support to the piers for the aerial guideway, are expected to arrive in late winter and will be delivered to Dulles Airport. The girders average 150 feet long, 8 feet tall and 190,000 pounds. Delivery and installation of these massive beams will require use of multiple cranes which will, in turn, necessitate lane closures and possible detours on the Airport property. Project crews are developing extensive plans for managing traffic during this time and the public will be informed of any impacts prior to work beginning.
Work is also taking place on Autopilot Drive near car rental agencies and police/fire facilities. Work is these areas will intensify in the spring.
Dulles Airport Construction: Pier construction in the airport's cargo area.
Photo courtesy of Capital Rail Constructors
Wintertime Blues
Old Man Winter is taking its toll on some Phase 2 construction. Paving and striping work cannot take place when temperatures hit the freezing mark so some work has been delayed at some locations at Dulles, as well as the Dulles Access Highway and Dulles Toll Road.
Looking back a bit
Late last year, significant preparation work was done at the future location of the Dulles Airport Station along the Saarinen Circle side of the Parking Garage 1. Included in that work was the "recycling" of the mature trees in front of the garage. The trees were transplanted at a nursery on airport property and will be replanted as needed at other airport sites.
Map: Phase 2 route map<h2>Off the Airport Site</h2>Preliminary construction continues along some sections of the Dulles Greenway, west of the airport. The Greenway crosses over Broad Run, a tributary of the Potomac River, between the Route 606 and Loudoun County Parkway exits. Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project crews have begun construction of a bridge in the median of the Greenway at this location so the Silver Line may also cross over Broad Run. Similar construction is underway on the Dulles Access Highway at the Horsepen Run bridge at Dulles Airport, and will soon begin at the Centreville Road bridge.
Significant civil work will also begin this year in the Kiss & Ride area of Herndon-Monroe Park and Ride and at the future Herndon Station. Meetings will be held with county officials who operate the existing garage and residents of nearby neighborhoods in the coming weeks.
Greenway Construction: The map above shows the location of the Broad Run Bridge that is being constructed in the median of the Dulles Greenway.
<i>Graphic courtesy of Capital Rail Constructors</i>
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Based on the opening above, the elevated at Dulles Airport will not utilize post-tension type construction for the spans. I could be wrong but it sound like some kind of steel beam will be used, either a steel box beam similar to the elevated crossing of the Capitol Beltway on the Red line in Bethesda or a pair of steel beams similar to the elevated at the Rhode Island Avenue station.