TriMet upgrades large section of rail as it wraps up spring project on MAX Blue Line

TriMet will be doing a number of closures in the month of September for its MAX system project.

TriMet

TriMet’s spring project has put some green rail on the MAX system in northeast Portland.

Crews completed the maintenance project that began a few weeks ago on the MAX Blue Line, with the final phase involving rebuilding rail near I-84 under the Northeast 33^rd Avenue overpass. Service resumed on May 24.

Earlier work included replacing rail crossings at the northern and southern ends of the Gateway Transit Center and rail maintenance between East 122^nd Avenue and Civic Drive. Trains also are now allowed to go full speed on a curved section that runs along I-84 after one of the oldest sections of track in the network was upgraded.

Here is a summary of the latest work that was finished on May 23:

• Around 2,600 ft of rail was replaced, including in areas where the track had been since the start of MAX Blue Line service in 1986;
• About 500 wooden crossties were replaced with concrete crossties;
• Replacement of the two rail crossings where TriMet buses drive over track;
• Litter was picked up along tracks where stations were closed; and
• Two switch machines were replaced at the Gateway Transit Center.

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