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Sept. 19, 2007
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Completes Expansion and Retrofit of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel on Schedule(SEATTLE)
- Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc., a leading heavy civil
engineering contractor, has successfully completed work on its $90
million contract to expand and retrofit the Downtown Seattle Transit
Tunnel on behalf of client Sound Transit. The newly retrofitted tunnel
was inaugurated September 18, 2007 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at
the Westlake Station in Downtown Seattle and will reopen on schedule to
the public for bus service Monday, Sept. 24.
"This was a
fantastic project and opportunity for Balfour Beatty Infrastructure on
multiple levels," said Bill Ogle, Western Region vice president for
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure. "Sound Transit and our project team
immediately formed a dynamic and highly efficient partnership which
lasted the duration of the project, resulting in the on-time completion
of a very complex project. We are honored to have played a role in
constructing a key portion of this high profile and state-of-the-art
transportation network that will be enjoyed by thousands in Seattle."
The
tunnel originally opened in 1990 and was due for upgrades to its
electrical, mechanical, and safety systems. The 1.3-mile bus tunnel
closed for two years in September 2005 while Balfour Beatty
Infrastructure retrofitted it to handle the latest in light rail
technology. Sound Transit light rail trains will join buses in the
tunnel when the rail line begins operation between Downtown Seattle and
the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2009. Joint bus and rail
operations will allow for maximum transit use of the tunnel.
As
part of the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel project Balfour Beatty
Infrastructure was also responsible for building the Pine Street Stub
Tunnel, installing new station identification signage, adding new
accessibility features for visually impaired passengers, and enhancing
overall station appearance.
Balfour Beatty Infrastructure, Inc. delivers
industry-leading civil engineering and construction expertise for
transportation and water infrastructure projects throughout the United
States. With more than 1,000 employees in major operations in
California, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia and Texas, Balfour Beatty
Infrastructure boasts annual revenues of more than $400 million. An
award-winning contractor, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure recently
received the AGC of America's 2008 Marvin M. Black Excellence in
Partnering Award and is recognized by Engineering News-Record as one of
the "Top 20 Transportation Contractors" and "Top 50 Domestic Heavy
Contractors" for 2009. Balfour Beatty Infrastructure is part of Balfour
Beatty plc, a global engineering, construction, services and investment
business organization specializing in large infrastructure and building
programs.
Download a PDF
of this release.
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