H2J Double Track Construction – Owner’s Representative

To improve the reliability of freight and passenger service, Norfolk Southern Railway added a second mainline track on the 12-mile corridor between Control Point Haydock and Control Point Junker as part of the Piedmont Improvement Program between Raleigh and Charlotte. Lochner served as part of the owner’s representative team, overseeing the construction of three railroad bridges: the reconstruction of the 107-foot-long, single-span structure over Rocky River; the new construction of a 160-foot-long, three-span structure over Coddle Creek; and the new construction of a 198-foot-long, three-span structure over the future Mallard Creek Church Road.

The reconstruction of the Rocky River bridge included the replacement of the existing single-track superstructure with a double-track superstructure, consisting of a ballasted concrete deck supported on structural steel plate girders. The existing concrete abutments were also modified and rehabilitated. Construction was completed in phases to maintain rail operations on one track at all times.

The new railroad alignment in the area of the Coddle Creek bridge was offset from the existing alignment to enable bridge construction to progress without conflicting with railroad operations. Conflicts with rail operations were avoided at the bridge over the future Mallard Creek Church Road through the construction of a railroad detour track around the site. Both bridges have double-track superstructures, consisting of a ballasted concrete deck supported on structural steel beams and/or plate girders.

Lochner’s construction phase services for the three bridges included construction observation; the review and approval of contractor submittals, including fabrication drawings, demolition plans, shoring plans, and formwork plans; and the assurance of compliance with project specifications for all proposed products.