Construction advances on NS' Ohio yard expansion project

A major expansion at Norfolk Southern Railway's yard in Bellevue, Ohio, is on track for completion by year's end. The project is designed to transform the facility into one of North America's largest rail-car classification and switching yards.

The $160 million expansion will double the yard's size to accommodate more traffic, and add about 38.5 miles of track and 145 miles of underground cable for communications and signaling systems.

Built in 1967, the Bellevue facility is one of NS' main hump yards. Projected to be the only dual-hump freight classification yard in the United States, the Bellevue yard will double its daily capacity from 1,800 to 3,600 cars after the project is completed.

Engineering and construction management firm STV is providing construction management services for a $40 million portion of the project, which is proceeding via an expedited construction schedule.

"Located between Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio, Bellevue is situated at the intersection of five NS lines and is a critical part of the Midwest's freight-rail network," said STV Vice President Robert Phillips, who oversees the firm's freight-rail group, in a press release. "STV continues to receive more and more contract awards in this vital region, with Bellevue's expansion being one of the most significant freight-rail initiatives we've supported to date."