ABCD Pittsburgh Chapter Newsletter November 2013 | Page 10

CSX J&L Tunnel
Project Location:

Southside Works
Pittsburgh, PA

Firm:

Mascaro Construction & Michael
Baker, Jr. Inc.

Construction Value:

$10,474,650

Project Description:
In 2008, CSX launched the National
Gateway project to increase the clearances at public
overpasses to allow trains to carry double-stack containers.
One of the tunnels targeted by this project was the J&L
Tunnel which dates back to the 1880s and part of the J&L
Steel Company’s Pittsburgh Works South Side plant. The Mascaro and Baker team submitted a novel approach to raising
the railroad tunnel roof. It involved placing a 250-ton crane on the tunnel roof, picking off the old roof members and
installing new precast beams. This project increased the vertical clearance inside a 1,600 linear-foot long section of a
CSX railroad tunnel.

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