Despite a ribbon cutting last year and contruction has been going on since 2015.
Saw some cranes and parts on the ground with just some trackwork over the weekend but no action and no workers
Last I heard back in December is to expect late June/early July. CSX has already sent us UMAX container pricing over that ramp. No interline yet, just CSX local.
It's a pretty complicated project, and working around live tracks makes it harder - someplace I saw a pretty good detailed set of plans that the average person could understand. 3 years would be realistic; if they've gotten it done in 2, then kudos to them.
- PDN.
While it may seem that converting a former rail yard for intermodal use should be a simple process, there's a ton of work that must be done once all the permits, impact statements and a mountain of other 'legal' paperwork gets completed.
First, out comes the former tracks, and maybe even the dirt, too, if it was contaminated. Next, it all gets graded, followed by the electrical and drainage crews come in and bury a lot of pipe. They'll likely have to create one or more rainwater catch ponds as well that the drains will empty into. Don't forget the need for air line connections at each end of the new tracks, too.
Next, the new road bed and tracks get put in, followed by a heavily compacted, cement-mixed-with-dirt base for the asphalt for strength. Then the asphalt goes down. Or, maybe they'll put in 10-12" thick concrete instead of the asphalt. The big machines each weigh more than 100,000 pounds and have to pick up (highway illegal, but they come anyway) 60-70,000 pound containers and trailers. Needless to say, the driveable areas in an intermodal ramp have to support more than twice the normal pounds/square inch that an interstate highway must support.
Somewhere along the construction timeline, they can build/install the various buildings...everything from the 'office' to trailer/container/chassis repair shop to electrical control cabinets, including standby generator.
Finally, it's time to hire and train staff, etc...then it's open for business!
Link to CSX webpage for the project, which includes a brief description of and approximate dates for each of the 5 Phases of the Construction Plan - to be complete in the middle of 2017:
https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/about-us/projects-and-partnerships/pittsburgh-intermodal-rail-terminal/
Link to page with a site plan (several sheets assembled together) - may take a long time to load (1 - 2 mins.), and then to enlarge, shift, etc.:
https://www.csx.com/index.cfm/library/files/about-us/projects-and-partnerships/pittsburgh-site-plan/
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