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Setting the stage for rail
Although final design approval of the Dulles rail project's first phase has only just been granted, jackhammer-wielding construction crews have been busily plugging away in the name of the rail project since January.With this latest approval, the Federal Transit Administration has authorized $159 million for the project, which should mean a slight ramping up of preliminary construction efforts. The money will be used to make the project design ready for full funding approval and to reimburse the project for preliminary engineering, further utility relocation costs, and the design and purchase of rail cars.
Until full funding is granted, the project is limited to preliminary construction work.
“[Final design approval] does not constitute approval to start any physical construction activity,” according to a letter from the FTA to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority formally granting final design approval, released this week.
For the last few months, workers have been relocating utilities in the center of Tysons Corner, working at off hours to avoid conflicts with heavy traffic. The utility relocation is primarily to move water, gas, telecommunications and electric lines from the path of construction of the elevated Silver Line, as the Dulles rail extension will be called.
Now, this effort will continue, but more so, as workers move onto Route 123 and the Dulles Airport Access Road. Many of the lines in this area will be telecommunication lines, as well as the usual utilities.
In addition to moving obstructions out of the way, the project has also started to lay the groundwork of the more massive construction to come. Staging areas in the “cloverleaf” at the intersection of the toll road and Route 123 have already been cleared to provide a place for project managers to store materials and construction vehicles close to where work will proceed.
According to project spokeswoman Marcia McAllister, additional staging areas are being set up on the north and south sides of Route 7 where it intersects the toll road. Project staff will also begin the actual purchase of land along the project route, something that had to wait for final design approval.
Although no schedule has been finalized, the project may also begin the actual widening of Route 7 in the coming months.
For the next week, utility relocation will proceed in front of Business Bank in Tysons Corner.
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