DART Central Business District Project

Completed in November 1996, the $58.6 million Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) - Central Business District project featured 7,000-ft. of light rail track through downtown Dallas. Constructed by Gilbert Texas Construction, L.P., a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, the scope of work involved the relocation of utilities; street and sidewalk reconstruction; installation of approximately 13,000 ft. of commuter light-rail track; construction of four passenger stations; traction power; and surface amenities.

Underground utility work was challenging, both in complexity and magnitude. All utilities beneath the new track slab required relocation involving 26-ft.-deep cuts throughout a congested downtown area, while continuously monitoring utility routes and relocations. Numerous value engineering concepts and redesigns helped minimize impacts to cost and schedule.

Mass. Electric Construction Co., a subsidiary of Kiewit Corporation, provided design, supply, installation and testing of the communications, central control, and train control systems on various sections of the DART line. To maintain pedestrian and vehicular traffic while relocating utilities, placing rail, and completing surface work, crews developed an easy-to-move barricade system.