Virgin Trains – Brightline Trains Phase II Zone 4, Bridges & Walls

JBC is a subcontractor to the Prime rail contractor, based out of the main project office in Melbourne, FL. JBC is subcontracted to build 28 bridges across a corridor of 105 miles from north Melbourne, FL to Palm Beach, FL. These bridges will replace the existing bridge crossings in addition to add a second adjacent crossing at each water crossing, allowing Brightline and FEC to have two rail lines rather than one like originally in place. Temporary site access is first required, consisting of land-based crane pads and/or temporary crane trestle over the crossings to access the work, which would be removed once work at each site was completed. We also installed temporary median sheet pile walls which allowed excavation adjacent to the active track, necessary to build the new end bents on land. Some of the bridge locations require partial or full bridge demolition and removal, hauling offsite to appropriate disposal sites. Permanent foundations consist of driven 24” square precast concrete piling, with a concrete pile cap and various styles of super structure throughout the project. Superstructure varies from bridge to bridge from steel plate girders, steel through girders, precast box beams, precast flat slabs and precast 84” decked T-beams. After erecting the superstructure, concrete end diaphragms and intermediate steel diaphragms were required, in addition to retaining walls necessary to retain the railroad ballast, then the bridges receive an expansion joint and waterproofing membrane with asphaltic board protection. Each shoreline received filter fabric, graded stone, and rip rap protection. Throughout construction JBC also supported Brightline and Florida East Coast Railroad (FECR) with maintaining and shoring of existing structures to prolong their lifespan until the new bridges were complete.