American firms Fluor and Walsh Construction Company have been selected for a $2.1bn design-and-build contract for Chicago’s rapid transit rail lines.
The project is the largest ever overseen by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and involves work on phase one of the red and purple line modernisation programme.
Fluor says the development will result in expanded capacity and improved infrastructure in the "region’s most used rail lines".
Work on the development includes:
- Designing and building elevated tracks along a 3km section including bridges, support structures and existing tracks
- Upgrading 5.1km of the signal system
- Construction of a grade-separated bypass for the Brown Line at Clark Junction
- Replacing four of the CTA’s busiest stations.
Fluor and Walsh will work with designer Stantec Consulting Services on the project.
Terence Easton, Fluor infrastructure president, said: "Fluor is pleased to have been selected by the CTA to deliver this massive project on the nearly century-old red and purple lines. When complete, this project will help build prosperity and empower progress for the region as well as improve transit for the citizens of Chicago."
The purple line originally opened in 1949 and the red line opened in 1993.
Modernisation work is due to begin in the first quarter of 2019 and is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.
Image: Chicago’s Red Line (Cragin Spring/CC BY 2.0)
