Kinder Morgan/CN Railroad
Pickering provided field surveys and railroad designs for a track extension to a Kinder Morgan facility near Carville, LA.
The project included the following:
- Survey
- 12,000 ft. of 112 lb. Rail
- New #10 turnout
- Span bridge over a bayou
- Triple barrel box bridge over a canal
- At grade crossing at local highway
- Extensive drainage design
- Erosion control
- Quantities
- Cross-sections
- Right-of-way
The vertical geometry was constrained by the existing track, two major drainage crossings (which had to be coordinated with another consultant), an existing local highway, the Kinder Morgan facility, and the maximum grades allowed by the railroad. Due to the relatively flat nature of the surrounding terrain, it was extremely difficult to provide positive drainage while maintaining the desired freeboard between the top of rail and the top of the water surface in the proposed side ditches. The side ditches were constrained by the depth of the existing canals and bayous bordering and crossing within the project limits. A combination of variable side slopes and bottom widths were utilized to provide enough area to carry the required design flows. The final design not only incorporated all of the constraints, but also allowed the project to be constructed within the originally planned right-of-way width.
The project was time sensitive and required a turn around time from start of survey to completed construction documents within only a couple of months.
Canadian National Railroad
Field Surveys and Railroad Designs
Construction Cost
$1 million
Completion Date
2005