Transportation

The Ramsey Rail Improvements project located in Portland Oregon was an upgrade project that helped improve the rail service for local businesses, port facilities, and the railroads that serve them.

The project work consisted of 25,000 track feet of grading, sub-ballast, and ballast placement for staged railroad construction. Yard track liner, reinforced concrete storm sewer piping, manholes, connections to existing storm sewers, stormwater treatment vaults, electrical distribution equipment, railyard lighting, compressed air system, fencing, and other appurtenances were also constructed to complete the project.

To ensure worker safety for all work performed within 25 feet of the centerline of the track, our team developed a Roadway Worker Protection/On Track Safety Program. Our crews complied with all railroad training and security requirements, as well as worked with BNSF flagging services to ensure worker safety for the project duration.

An important aspect of this project was the tight tolerances on the subgrade, sub-ballast finish grade & top of rail elevation required to ensure a smooth ride on the railroad. Another unique aspect was the timing of the work, ensuring that no work took place while a train was passing. Our crews coordinated with Port tenants, Port of Portland, BNSF and Union Pacific in order to complete the work with minimal impacts to freight traffic.