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Reno Trench Project
Reno, Nevada
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Reno Trench Project
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Artist's rendition of the ReTRAC Project in Reno,
Nevada.
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The expansion of the Port of Oakland, California, and the merger
of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads in 1996 caused
rail traffic through Reno, Nevada, to increase appreciably. Traffic
is expected to increase further, almost 80% from its previous daily
load of 14 trains. This long-studied project is finally scheduled
to begin construction. The Reno Transportation Rail Access Corridor
(ReTRAC) Project is estimated to cost $231 million and will consist
of 2.25 miles of track lowering, eliminate 11 grade crossings, and
provide capability to handle the expected traffic growth. The process
of qualifying, selecting, and awarding the contract for the design-build
project has been completed. Preliminary planning and environmental
analysis, geotechnical studies, and other impacts associated with
the project were undertaken in preceding years.
During the technical studies phase, several wall options were evaluated
for applicability to the conditions of the project site. Key concerns
included the soil stratum with the possibility of large boulders,
cobble, and groundwater. The design groundwater level is approximately
13 feet above the bottom of the base slab. Wall studies concluded
that the best option for Reno would be a 3-foot-thick reinforced
concrete diaphragm wall construction by the slurry trench method.
The invert would comprise a reinforced concrete slab up to 6 feet
thick underlain with 14 feet of jet-grouted soil. Water stops are
to be installed where the concrete slab meets the diaphragm wall.
Struts will brace the wall in a manner similar to the Alameda Project.
The trench section is composed of a 54-foot opening, 2 tracks, 18
inches of ballast on the base slab with ballast stops, and a maintenance
roadway.
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