The Bayview North Clearance Improvement program is a strategic initiative to enhance CSX’s Philadelphia Subdivision, targeting a minimum 21-foot vertical clearance from Lindbergh Boulevard in Philadelphia (milepost BAK 3.1) to Mechanics Valley Road in Childs, Maryland (milepost BAK 47.54). This crucial upgrade supports over thirty daily freight trains, with traffic projected to increase as new CSXT-served facilities become operational.

Our team of experts spearheaded the project, managing a comprehensive scope including survey, track alignments, grading, drainage (featuring a new pump station), erosion and sediment control, and structural design. Confronted with a stringent timeline that precluded additional right-of-way acquisition, all work was meticulously executed within existing boundaries.

The track’s location in a predominantly trench section presented unique challenges, necessitating innovative engineering solutions. Soil nail walls, soldier piles, and lagging retaining walls were strategically implemented to maintain the structural integrity of adjacent embankment slopes and infrastructure. Two overhead bridges and a tunnel required careful underpinning to ensure long-term stability.

Track lowering was primarily achieved through undercutting. In areas where rock was encountered, the team employed a precise method of removing track panels to facilitate rock excavation. This holistic approach addressed all aspects of the clearance improvement, from structural reinforcement to exacting track modifications.

The project’s success demonstrates our ability to deliver complex infrastructure upgrades within tight spatial and temporal constraints, ensuring the subdivision’s readiness for increased freight capacity while maintaining operational continuity.