GEO-INSTITUTE (GI) AND ASSOCIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST (AEG) JOINT MEETING

ABSTRACT

The North Portland Junction is a triple-track crossover for UPRR and BNSF Railway Company, situated on 20- to 30-foot-high soil embankments in a wye configuration. When increased passenger rail traffic required a more efficient junction, UPRR, BNSF, and the State of Oregon teamed up to enlarge the crossover track radius by widening existing embankments, relocating an existing switch, and installing new track. A relatively simple project was made complex by the presence of 40-foot-thick, soft, compressible soil below the site, which required that embankments be supported by deep soil mixing (DSM) columns. Jason led the design and CM teams for the project, which covered assessments of potential settlement, shoring, and construction feasibility. Many challenges during construction led to bumps in the road, but also opportunities for innovation and (humbling) lessons learned. The project was successfully completed in early 2023 and remains in service today.