Extension to serve Reston Town Cener, Herndon, Dulles, Ashburn
It will be next spring before you see heavy construction on the second phase of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. However, Capital Rail Constructors (CRC), the Phase 2 design-build contractor, has been given the green light to start necessary preliminary work. On July 8th, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority issued a Notice to Proceed to CRC, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group and Kiewit Infrastructure South.
“This is an important milestone,” said Jack Potter, Airports Authority president and CEO. “The Notice to Proceed allows CRC to get to work, making rail to Dulles a reality. This means crews will soon be in the field surveying, performing site preparations, and making geological assessments while they finalize permits and other design work. Actual construction work using heavy equipment and cranes will likely begin in spring of 2014.”
The Notice to Proceed initiates the contract, previously awarded to CRC on May 14, to construct six stations in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, 11.4 miles of track and guideways, and wayside components. The stations are Reston Town Center, Herndon, Innovation Center near Route 28, Washington Dulles International Airport, Route 606, and Route 772/Ashburn. The notice sets a construction completion period of 60 months, targeting completion in
July 2018.
“Ten years ago, rail to Dulles and beyond was still just a hopeful idea,” said Michael Curto, Airports Authority chairman. “Today, it is on its way to becoming a reality as we formally initiate Phase 2 of rail to Dulles. There is still much work to be done on both Phase 1 and Phase 2, but this Notice to Proceed represents an important milestone toward increased transportation connectivity for the region.”
The announcement comes as the Airports Authority and its Phase 1 contractor, Dulles Transit Partners, are about 95 percent complete with construction of Phase 1 of the Silver Line from East Falls Church, through Tysons Corner, to Wiehle Avenue on the eastern side of Reston. Phase 1 will have five stations, including four in the Tysons Corner area.
“CRC is excited to receive the Notice to Proceed on the Rail to Dulles Phase 2 project, which is [currently] one of the largest infrastructure projects in the nation,” said Mahmoud Hosseini, CRC project director. “We look forward to working closely with MWAA, its funding partners, and WMATA to deliver this monumental project to the Washington metropolitan area. This project will have important long term economic impact on the community and the region through the creation of significant employment and local business opportunities.”
Like Phase 1, construction of Phase 2 is expected to have significant positive impacts on the local economy. Phase 1 generated nearly 1,800 construction jobs during peak periods. In addition, local subcontractors received 60 percent of all procurements for the project.
The Silver Line project is being undertaken in partnership with Loudoun and Fairfax counties, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
For information about both phases of the rail project, visit www.dullesmetro.com.
