Granite Construction bags rail contract from Virgin Trains USA in Orlando

Granite Construction has bagged a $505 million higher-speed rail project contract from Virgin Trains USA Florida to help the latter expand its services to Orlando, Florida.

The California-based construction company will oversee Zone 3, which encompasses about 57kms of rail alignment between Orlando International Airport and Cocoa.

Granite Construction said that nearly $490 million of the total contract value was booked in its fourth quarter 2018 backlog and the remaining $15 million amount will be included in its Q2 2019 backlog.

Formerly known as Brightline, Virgin Trains USA, which is operating currently between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, is the only privately-owned and operated intercity passenger train service in the US.

The express inter-city rail system is also looking to expand its services from Orlando into Tampa in the future. Recently Virgin Trains USA revealed its plans to construct and operate a new express service to connect Las Vegas to Southern California.

James H. Roberts – Granite Construction President and CEO said: “As one of the nation’s leading rail and transit contractors, Granite is proud to be a partner on this iconic project, which once completed, will provide Florida residents and visitors with a world-class transit system.”

Under its contract, Granite Construction will be responsible for nearly 525,000 cubic yards of excavation, 1.2 million square feet of mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall, 18 new bridges, 5 million cubic yards of embankment fill, 2,000 cubic yards of cast in place concrete retaining wall, high voltage power and gas utility relocations, signal and positive train control installations, three underpasses, drainage installations, and for creating 62 track miles of class VII rail construction.

Construction on the higher-speed rail project contract is expected to commence this summer and is likely to be wrapped up by 2022.