CALVERTON RAIL SPUR

Project Highlights / Scope of Work

• Rehabilitated 2 miles of track using both timber and steel ties

• Installed steel ties and culvert in order to lessen impact on sensitive environmental areas

• Installed 3 grade crossings (1 public road and 2 private roads) and 2 pedestrian crossings

• Installed active grade crossing signal package including flashers and gates with power feed to signal house

• Performed sitework including clearing, grading and ditching

• Performed asphalt paving restoring roadway approaches to new crossings

Challenges

•Install culvert with minimal disturbance to protected wildlife and environment

• Meet all reporting requirements of ARRA funded project

• Coordinate with numerous agencies and individuals involved in project development and oversight

This project gave us an opportunity to display our capabilities in both the Track and Civil disciplines.  This section of track, which once served a military and manufacturing site in the 1980’s, had been abandoned for 30 years.  It was in such disrepair that trees had sprouted between the rails.  By rehabilitating the line, operated by the New York & Atlantic Railway, the town of Riverhead would gain an active rail line and the EPCAL industrial park would receive rail service for the first time.

A stretch of two miles of track was rehabilitated.  The job required planning and coordination with the Long Island Railroad who installed new switches on their main line to tie-in the restored spur.  Prior to the track improvements, the entire span was cleared of the trees and debris that had encroached on the tracks from 30 years of neglect.  All the ties were replaced.  In some areas, new timber ties were installed while in others, steel ties were used.  The steel ties were necessary to prevent further damage to the ecosystem caused by the original creosote-coated ties. 

A total of five new crossings were installed including one on a public road, two on private roads and two pedestrian crossings.  The public crossing contains a full active signal package with flashers, gates and signal house.  The private crossings incorporate passive warnings.  All the roadway approaches were restored with new asphalt paving.  The pedestrian crossings were constructed of timber and provide access to the area’s hiking trails.

One unique aspect of this project was the culvert installation.  The culvert was necessary to accommodate the migration pattern of the local endangered spotted salamander.  It provides them safe access to their spawning grounds located behind the tracks.

This job was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and required strict reporting through each phase of construction.  In addition, there were several extra layers of oversight and agency involvement to manage.  With so many entities collaborating - the ARRA, the town of Riverhead, the LIRR, the industrial park tenants and miscellaneous consultants - many planning sessions took place to make sure the work proceeded as scheduled.