View of the 1868 Freight Depot Building, looking south

Thank you for your interest in VPRA’s New River Valley project! You may have noticed the station site is developing quickly as construction continues on the future New River Valley passenger rail station. Despite last month’s winter weather which slowed crews down as they shifted focus to snow and ice removal, progress on the project continues smoothly.  

We explained in our Fall Construction Update how Norfolk Southern crews installed the turnout along the west end of Cambria. The switch, cross ties, rail, and ballast were all fully installed along this connection and track set to final elevation. Check out this video to watch the process from start to finish: The New River Valley Project Update: Installing a Railroad Turnout.

At Cambria, contractors have substantially completed the sub-structure of the parking lot. The T-Wall, or Gravix Wall, is a heavy-duty concrete wall used to hold back the earth. Cellular concrete, lightweight concrete filled with tiny air bubbles, will be poured into the empty spaces between the “T-Stems” which make up the structure of the T-Wall. The T-Wall will create a strong, level base for the parking lot at the correct grade elevation.  

Above: T-Stems make up the internal structure of the Gravix Wall, which will be filled with cellular concrete and create the base of the parking lot

Cellular concrete is a lightweight material filled with tiny air bubbles, making it easier to handle than traditional concrete without compromising structural integrity 

Side profile of the T-Stems and Gravix Wall  

Concrete grade beams, or supporting columns, will make up the support structure of the nearly 1,000-foot platform. Over 100 foundations for the tiers have been excavated, and contractors have begun pouring concrete to create those columns in the first section of grade beams.  

Above: Aerial view of Cambria looking west; the poured concrete pier foundations will support the eventual platform 
Below: A closer view of the concrete foundations and future station building  

The first of many electrical and wiring connections have been installed on the eastern end of the site, and crews will install the rest of the underground and overhead power connection before building the platform or walkways.  

Crews have installed the cantilever signal, which is an overhead track signal that is mounted on a tall pole with a long arm hanging out over the rails, instead of being placed on the ground next to them. The signal tells the train engineer whether to stop, slow down, or proceed, based on track conditions ahead. 

At Radford, crews have continued the trenching and installation of conduit turnups within the electrical yard. Placement of layover tracks continues, and crews have completed installation of ties, rail, turnouts, switches, and derails.  

Bases for light poles line the skeletonized tracks; crews will eventually pave the area with concrete to create a level surface across the layover facility  


Aerial view of the Radford layover facility, looking west 

We are looking forward to watching construction progress at both Cambria and Radford. Please reach out to VPRA with any questions about construction or the New River Valley Project at contactus@vpra.virginia.gov, or at 804-303-8700.  

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