This project will raise Lincoln Avenue over key railroad tracks in the Port area, removing the at-grade conflict between rail activities and heavy vehicular traffic. Rail plays an essential role in moving freight quickly and efficiently in and out of the Port, with trains averaging 8,000 feet in length. Lincoln Avenue is a major arterial, serving as the primary connector between Interstate 5 and the Port for a high number of trucks. Rail switching operations and mainline trains cause vehicular delays of up to 30 minute every two hours. The final piece of the grade separation - the overpass itself - remained unfunded until the Port received $15.4 million in March 2009 from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. Scarsella Brothers Inc., of Kent, Wash., was awarded the $21.8 million contract to build the overpass. Construction began in September 2009. Upon completion, the grade separation will significantly improve rail and road efficiency. It will also enhance air quality. Trucks will have direct access to APM Terminals, so they won't sit idling while trains pass. From dockworkers in Tacoma to potato farmers in Eastern Washington, the Port is a center of regional economic activity. The grade separation will aid in the flow of goods through the Port's South and North Intermodal Yards and APM Terminals. Although local in nature, this project offers economic benefits for both Washington state and the nation. Tacoma is a gateway port, and much of the cargo moving through here is bound for inland markets such as Chicago and New York. Find opportunities associated with the grade separation in the Business Opportunities section of our Web site. For more information, contact the Port contracts department. Construction hotline:
253-428-8644 Construction hotline in Seattle:
253-838-0142, ext. 644 |