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Hampton Roads Transit recently awarded a $41 million contract to Skanska USA Civil Southeast perform construction services as part of "The Tide," a 7.4-mile light-rail line linking the Eastern Virginia Medical Center and downtown Norfolk, Va.

One of 10 construction contracts to be awarded, Skanska's pact covers a 4.5-mile section from Norfolk State University to Newtown Road. Under the contract, Skanska is responsible for double-track construction, bridges, grading, demolition, drainage, excavation and utility work.

Most of the work will be performed within the right-of-way of an existing single-track line abandoned by Norfolk Southern Railway. The track will be demolished and replaced with the new light-rail track, a project that'll include 37,000 track feet of mainline ballasted track construction, 4,250 track feet of yard ballasted track construction, 5,000 track feet of open deck track and 54,000 tons of sub-ballast.

The contract also calls for building three bridges totaling 2,500 linear feet. Two of them will replace existing wooden trestles which can not accommodate the new track. The third bridge will be built above grade to clear an existing NS line.

When complete in 2010, The Tide will feature 11 stations and connect several colleges, hospitals and other businesses.