KS Engineers, P.C. (KSE), as part of a Joint Venture, provided comprehensive design-build and construction quality management services for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Colonial Road Bridge Replacement and Pocket Track Extension in the Village of Thomaston, New York. KSE’s responsibilities included bridge and roadway design, survey, traffic engineering, geotechnical and foundation engineering, drainage design, utility coordination, construction support, and implementation of an extensive Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program throughout construction. KSE also served as the Construction Quality Manager, overseeing contractor and subcontractor work, coordinating inspections and testing, maintaining project documentation, and ensuring compliance with the Project Quality Plan and all contract requirements.
The $24.9 million project replaced the aging Colonial Road Bridge, extended the existing LIRR pocket track, improved drainage throughout the rail corridor, and modernized critical rail infrastructure to enhance the safety, reliability, and operational capacity of one of the region’s busiest commuter rail systems. The improvements were strategically designed to support future service enhancements associated with East Side Access while reducing flooding issues that had historically disrupted train operations.
During design, KSE developed an innovative alternative technical solution that significantly improved constructability while reducing project costs and minimizing impacts to railroad operations. The proposed design eliminated the need for drilled shaft foundations and avoided the relocation of overhead utility lines, substantially reducing required track outages and generating considerable savings for the LIRR. This value-engineering approach accelerated construction while maintaining the project’s performance objectives and long-term durability.
Construction, completed between February 2015 and October 2016, included right-of-way clearing, grading, retaining wall construction, signal modifications, track switches, crossovers, interlocking improvements, utility relocations, drainage enhancements, and replacement of the existing bridge. The centerpiece of the project was a new 324-foot-long bridge consisting of precast concrete arch spans supported by cast-in-place concrete abutments and designed in accordance with NYSDOT standards. Approximately 1,500 linear feet of wingwalls and retaining walls were also constructed to stabilize the corridor and support the new roadway alignment. Additional work included establishment of secure staging areas, installation of steel sheeting, demolition of the existing bridge, roadway reconstruction, and measures that minimized construction traffic through adjacent residential neighborhoods.
The completed project delivered significant operational benefits by improving bridge safety, increasing rail system reliability, enhancing drainage, and enabling more efficient train movements. The pocket track extension allows trains to turn more quickly, increases peak-hour service and seating capacity west of Great Neck, supports expanded service to Grand Central Terminal through East Side Access, and improves operations during special events at Mets-Willets Point.
The project’s innovative design-build delivery, exceptional engineering, and measurable improvements to regional transportation infrastructure were recognized with three prestigious industry honors: the American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey (ACEC NJ) Award for Engineering Excellence, the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC NY) Silver Award for Engineering Excellence, and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Metropolitan Section Design-Build Project of the Year Award.
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