NEEDLES, CA — The BNSF Needles Third Main Track Project received a 2025 Constructors Award from the Associated General Contractors of California (AGC of California) in the Heavy Civil ($25 million to $50 million) category. This is the most recent in a long line of awards for the project, which in 2024 was honored with the California Transportation Foundation’s Goods Movement Project of the Year, the American Council of Engineering Companies’ Engineering Excellence Awards: National Recognition Award, the American Council of Engineering Companies of California’s Engineering Excellence Awards: Honor Award, and was a finalist for the American Society of Civil Engineers, San Bernardino-Riverside Branch Project of the Year Award.
The scope for this project included construction of a 29-mile third rail line that ran parallel to an existing track in the challenging desert environment of Needles, California. Extensive excavation was performed, including moving 340,000 cubic yards of dirt and 30,000 cubic yards of solid granite rock, along with placing 97,000 cubic yards of sub ballast. Additionally, the team extended 48 culverts, drove 651 steel piles, and built 50 new bridges and crash protection walls under Interstate 40. Working in a sensitive environmental area, Granite implemented an Environmental Compliance Plan to mitigate impacts, particularly to protect sensitive species like the desert tortoise.
Originally planned as a bid-build, the project shifted to a Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) approach, allowing for enhanced collaboration among BNSF, Granite, and other stakeholders. This shift enabled early constructability reviews and risk assessments, leading to cost savings and scheduling efficiencies. Strategic planning and environmental considerations improved site access and staging, facilitating project logistics without ecological disruption.
"It was an honor to build this project with such a great team, and winning this award is a testament to Granite’s legacy of being America’s Infrastructure Company,” Granite Project Manager Evan Garber said. “Partnering with BNSF on this project that enhanced rail efficiency on the Southern Transcontinental Railroad was a huge success that took collaborative efforts by all parties involved."
Managing train operations along the Southern Transcon, the busiest BNSF corridor, required precise coordination to avoid service disruptions. Despite challenges such as the remote location and adverse weather conditions, the project maintained a safety record with more than 82,000 man-hours worked with zero OSHA recordables. Early material procurement and innovative solutions, including drilling a new well for construction water contributed to the project finishing on time and under budget.
