Construction of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Phase 2 Ramps Up

May 11, 2015

Construction of Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Phase 2 Ramps Up

DULLES, Va.Capital Rail Constructors, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group, LLC, and Kiewit Infrastructure South Co., is leading the design-build effort for Phase 2 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. The project will further extend the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (Metro) Silver Line 11.4 miles west to Dulles International Airport and beyond to Loudoun County. The scope of work is broken down into five major components, including civil, structures, facilities, rail, and systems.

The team has made significant strides on the large-scale transportation project. Early this year, crews were busy drilling 30- to 40-foot shafts into the ground and forming the concrete columns and caps that make up the substructure of the 3.5-mile-long aerial guideway that will carry Metro's trains through Washington Dulles International Airport.

Most recently, crews began setting the concrete girders that make up the first element of the aerial guideway superstructure. Massive cranes are being used to lift the large beams into the air and set them on the aerial guideway caps. Work on the aerial guideway superstructure began April 21, with the installation of first of four girders to support the deck that comprises the second element of the superstructure. This work will continue through the summer.

Crews also have completed the tree removal from the site of the Dulles Airport Station. The trees were transplanted to another area of the airport unaffected by the construction efforts.

The Metropolitan Airports Authority (MWAA) is undertaking the Silver Line project in partnership with Fairfax and Loudoun counties, as well as the Commonwealth of Virginia. Upon completion, ownership of the Silver Line will be transferred to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

Parsons Transportation Group, Inc., Washington, D.C., and Dewberry and Davis LLC, Fairfax, Va., are serving as the lead designers for the project. Jacobs Engineering, Washington, D.C., is providing MWAA with project management services. Shirley Contracting Company, Clark's heavy civil subsidiary, is also playing a key role in the project.