Completion of Minneapolis-Area Light Rail Project Delayed
Unforeseen soil conditions and the addition of a protective rail-operations barrier will delay a scheduled 2023 completion of the $2-billion Southwest Light Rail Transit project in Hennepin County, Minn. The soil issues arose last year during construction of a shallow tunnel in the Minneapolis segment of the 14.3-mile route. The Lunda-McCrossan construction joint venture now will add a secant wall to stabilize the area and protect the foundations of adjacent buildings. The BNSF Railroad added a requirement for a crash-protection wall in a one-mile shared corridor after the LRT’s final design and civil construction contracts were in place. Schedule and cost impacts of the additional work have not been determined.
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