THE TUNNEL THAT TRANSFORMED PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia's $330-million Center City Rail Connection is now appreciated as doing far more than connecting two former stub-end commuter railroad stations. The 4-track 1.7-mile tunnel provides the region's 3.5 million people with through service on 12 rail lines totaling 500 miles. The Connection is also linked by concourses to subways, trolleys and buses and is serving as the basis for massive urban renewal. The project has enabled Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to revitalize its aging commuter rail system with $400 million scheduled for repairs and improvements over the next 4 years. A new direct rail line to the airport, opened in April 1985, also operates through the tunnel. The concrete-box tunnel posed a variety of unusual design and construction challenges. There was need to underpin historical building and the problem of construction without disrupting rail, vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Downtown buildings and their occupants also had to be protected from noise and vibration. Construction management involved more than 46 multi-discipline construction contracts which had to be coordinated and kept on schedule. Philadelphia's three subway lines had to be kept operating even though they interfered with tunnel construction at several points. Other details of the project are described. The project received the 1985 Outstanding Engineering Achievement of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Robison, R
• Publication Date: 1985-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 38-41
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 55
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction projects; Cut and cover tunneling; Environmental protection; Railroad commuter service; Transportation planning; Tunneling; Urban renewal; Urban transportation
• Identifier Terms: Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
• Geographic Terms: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Environment; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399812
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1985 12:00AM