Port of Los Angeles: Constructing a Grade Separation; Challenges and Opportunities

This paper will discuss the challenges and opportunities the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) encountered during the design and construction of the South Wilmington Grade Separation, an approximately 4,660 linear foot structure consisting of mostly cast in place box girder over an existing container terminal and railroad tracks in the City of Los Angeles. The project reduces delays, increases safety, improves goods movement and provides access to the Wilmington Waterfront by eliminating an existing conflict between vehicular traffic and two railroad crossings. Many challenges were encountered during the design and construction of the project. The paper will not only discuss these challenges but also highlight the opportunities that arose as result of design and construction challenges encountered over ten years. In addition, the paper will summarize how project challenges were proactively managed into opportunities in order to ensure the project remained on schedule and within a project budget of $84 million.