RESTORING CANTON VIADUCT: HISTORIC VIADUCT READIES FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL

Designing historic structures to meet the demands of contemporary use can present significant design and construction challenges. Such was the case in the rehabilitation of a historic viaduct in Massachusetts. The Canton Viaduct is the second oldest multiple-arch masonry viaduct in the country. Built by the Boston & Providence Railroad, it has been in continuous service since 1835. Currently more than 50 trains per day, including Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC) trains, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) commuter service and occasional Conrail freight trains use the viaduct. The Viaduct's design and construction were governed by three key criteria: strengthening and widening the structure for proposed high-speed service (140 mph); restoring the historic fabric of the masonry structure; and accomplishing construction on a fast track schedule while maintaining NEC railroad operations. Construction techniques and environmental concerns will be addressed in the September 1998 issue.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1763403
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This was presented as a paper at the 1998 AREMA Track and Structures Conference, Chicago, IL, September 14-16, 1998, sponsored by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association.
• Corporate Authors:

  Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation

  345 Hudson Street
  New York, NY  United States  10014
• Authors:
  • Ownjazayeri, V
  • Smithberger, T
• Publication Date: 1998-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 42-43
• Serial:
  • Railway Track and Structures
  • Publisher: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation
  • ISSN: 0033-9016

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arch bridges; High speed rail; Historic bridges; Historic preservation; Masonry construction; Railroad bridges; Rehabilitation (Maintenance); Strengthening (Maintenance); Viaducts
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak; Conrail; Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
• Geographic Terms: Massachusetts; Northeastern United States
• Subject Areas: History; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00796263
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 22 2000 12:00AM