Skanska Awarded Construction Contract

Hampton Roads Transit has awarded a $41 million contract to Skanska USA to perform construction services for The Tide. Skanska’s contract, one of 10 contracts that will be awarded for construction of the system, is for a 4.5 mile section from Norfolk State University to Newtown Road.

The contract calls for double-track construction, bridges, grading, demolition, drainage, 76,000 cubic yards of excavation, and utility work. The majority of work will be performed within the right of way of an abandoned single track line along the former Norfolk Southern Railway, which will be demolished and replaced with the new light rail track.

The contract also requires construction of three individual bridges totaling 2,500 linear feet. Two of the bridges will replace existing wooden trestles which can not accommodate the new track. The third bridge will be built above grade to clear an existing Norfolk Southern line which is still active. Work will also include removal of three trestles and construction of drilled shaft foundations for catenary poles providing electricity for the system.