RailWorks lands $85 million deal for light-rail track in Minneapolis

Written by Staff and newswire report
SouthWest LRT rendering
SouthWest LRT
RailWorks Corp. won a contract to build new 14.5-mile double track light rail track for the Southwest Light Rail Transit project in metropolitan Minneapolis. 

The track will run from Southwest Station in Eden Prairie, Minn., to Target Field Station in Minneapolis. Work on the project includes more than 110,500 TF ballasted track; more than 29,000 TF direct fixation on the structure; more than 6,900 TF direct fixation in tunnel; and more than 3,500 TF embedded, special trackwork and crossings, according to a written statement from RailWorks.

Additionally, RailWorks will inspect and maintain a roughly 5-mile section of Twin Cities & Western (TC&W) Railroad Track that lies adjacent to the new light rail tracks. The enhancements to the existing freight line will also create some additional space for the new light rail tracks.

The RailWorks contract is for $85 million. Work on the existing freight rail will begin this spring, and the construction of the new light rail tracks will start in 2020. The complete project will wrap up in 2022.

RailWorks is doing the work as a subcontractor to the Lunda/McCrossan joint venture that was awarded the SWLRT civil construction contract last fall. Lunda Construction teamed with C.S. McCrossan on the $799.5 million bid. Work began on the complex project late last year.

In March, the Metropolitan Council, which oversees the light-rail system, awarded a $2.88 million contract to RailWorks to repair track near the Mall of America.

RailWorks provides track and transit systems construction and maintenance services throughout the United States and Canada. A privately held company, RailWorks provides construction services for transit authorities, Class I and short-line railroads as well as commercial and industrial companies with rail infrastructure. RailWorks company brands include L.K. Comstock Inc., PNR RailWorks, HSQ Technology, and NARSTCO.

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