A joint venture (JV) between Ragnar Benson, a subsidiary of Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives (IEA), and FH Paschen has secured a $550m contract to deliver the West Lake Corridor railway expansion project in Indiana, US.
The contract has been awarded by The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD). Under the contract, the two companies will serve as the design-build construction team for the project that will provide a vital transportation link connecting north-west Indiana to Chicago and Cook County, Illinois.
The project will include the development of an eight-mile single-track branch extension of the existing South Shore rail line and four additional rail stations to reach high-growth areas in Lake County, Indiana.
It will also include the construction of 42 bridges as well as the structures. Additionally, Ragnar Benson and FH Paschen will build a maintenance and storage facility with a layover yard and three traction power substations to power the overhead contact system.
Work on the West Lake Corridor rail expansion project is expected to be concluded in October 2024. The railway expansion project is expected to improve mobility and accessibility to the region and boost local job creation as well as economic development opportunities for Lake County.
Furthermore, Jacobs, a technical and professional services provider, has been appointed as the lead designer for the project.
NICTD’s West Lake Corridor project manager Chris Beck said: “NICTD is excited to be working with the FH Paschen Ragnar Benson Joint Venture team to build this monumental project, which is so important to residents of Indiana.
“Designing and building a commuter railroad involves many complicated civil and electrical aspects, and we are confident that together the team will be very successful.”
IEA executive vice-president Brian Hummer said: “Through this important contract, IEA continues to strengthen our position in the rail construction market.
“Our Ragnar Benson team brings the experience, resources, and the capacity to deliver a successful project that will strengthen the connection between Chicago and Northwest Indiana while bringing additional economic opportunity to the region.”
