Ames Construction installed pipe, placed aggregate, and performed structural concrete work and asphalt paving for the construction of a rail facility.
Located just west of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Strauss Yard sits along the historic “Sunset Route,” one of the oldest and most critical rail corridors in the United States. The 11.5-mile by 1-mile site accommodates 26 buildings to support yard operations, including two fueling facilities, locomotive inspection tracks, an intermodal ramp, and a switching yard.
During construction, daily temperatures surpassed 100 degrees in the summer. High winds—exceeding 60 mph in the spring—created dust storms. Face masks, shade curtains, and hard hat shields helped to protect workers from the elements, and more than half a million gallons of water were used daily for dust control and construction water. Rain was also a factor, with crews experiencing two 500-year floods within a week’s time.
Working near live rail required exceptional safety vigilance. At one point, when excavating within a few feet of the live rail, crews installed a pile and lagging wall against the rail to allow excavation for sewer and industrial waste near the tracks.
The facility serves as an inland port for the strategic movement of goods, bolstering the economy of southern New Mexico.
Markets: Railroads, Intermodal, Ports and Terminals
Location: Strauss and Dona Ana Counties, New Mexico
Completion: 2014
Services:
- Structural concrete
- Earthwork
- Asphalt paving
Details:
- 9.5 miles of water line
- 4 miles of sanitary sewer
- 4 miles of industrial waste sewer
- 27 miles of storm drain piping
