Rail enhancements for Tacoma

“These two rail projects increase the efficiency of access to the Port rail system and will have a direct impact on the flow of the cargo movement through the Port, saving both time and money for our business partners and customers,” she said.

Bullfrog Junction is located at a critical intersection between the Tideflats and the two mainline railroads serving Tideflats customers. The recently completed project has added track and reconfigured the intersection, adding system redundancy and capacity while improving safety. Chilcote Junction, meanwhile, lies at the intersect point beneath the SR-509 overpass and the Port of Tacoma Road, where all rail traffic from Washington United Terminals, Pierce County Terminal and Tacoma Rail converge.

Throughout construction, which started in February 2006, both busy junctions remained in full operation. “This was an extraordinary achievement that took a great deal of co-ordination between our customers, BNSF, Union Pacific, Tacoma Rail and our port intermodal staff,” Beckett said.