The Norfolk Southern Railway Co. (NSRC), and Pittsburgh-based civil engineering firm Michael Baker International, recently completed the final design of the Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance Projects (PVC), a series of bridge projects to be completed in coordination with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the city of Pittsburgh.
“The proposed Pittsburgh Vertical Clearance projects will enable Norfolk Southern to move freight and people more efficiently through Pittsburgh and southwest Pennsylvania and connect industries and businesses to consumer markets on the East Coast and in the Midwest,” NSRC said.
The PVC projects will modify bridges and tracks on Norfolk Southern mainline tracks within the city’s North Side to enable double-stack intermodal trains to pass and include the Allegheny Commons Pedestrian Bridge, the Pittsburgh Amtrak Station, Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge, and
West North Avenue Bridge.
Options include elevated bridges, lower tracks, or a combination.
Work will be conducted on behalf of the NSRC with PennDOT funding. NSRC will work with the city to minimize the impact on residents during construction.
Construction details are not available, but the final design presentation can be viewed on Norfolk Southern’s website until Jan. 30.
PVC will no longer include the Columbus Avenue Track Lowering Project that will be completed separately.