Broad Street Subway

Client/Owner: South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority
Project Start Date: June 2000
Project Completion Date: September 2007

The Broad Street Subway/signal system upgrade project formed part of Balfour Beatty Rail Inc.'s acquisition of ABC-NACO's Signaling Division in 2001. This $51 million project calls for the design and installation of a world-class signal system. Built and commissioned in the 1920s, Broad Street Subway is one of the oldest subway systems in the United States. It comprises about 11 miles of subway from Fern Rock to Pattison in northern Philadelphia.

Balfour Beatty Rail is responsible for supplying and installing 11 central instrument houses, 240 wayside signal cases, a new central control center, 96 strand fiber-optic and copper local and express cables throughout the tunnel, 32 yard switches, 11 mainline switches, 27 electric train stops, a new AVI wayside system and a new AVI Carborne system.

The major focus of the field crews is the installation of the conduit and messenger system within the tunnel required for the local and express cabling. Balfour Beatty Rail's work consists mainly of a night-shift operation using high-rail work train equipment mobilized into the tunnel each evening.    

  

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