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Building a passenger rail line through a zoo was something new to Lease Crutcher Lewis. That’s why the construction manager-general contractor for the Elephant Lands project at the Oregon Zoo partnered with Salem-based R&R General Contractors, which had expertise in light rail projects around Portland and on the West Coast.

鈥淚t’s a complex and unique train system out there,鈥� said Andrew Dykeman, Lease Crutcher Lewis’ project manager for Elephant Lands. 鈥淲e knew that when we were going after the rail (work), and looked for others in the industry who had train and rail construction experience.鈥�

Work is just beginning on the $1.6 million rail portion of the $57 million Elephant Lands project; 2,200 feet of track will be installed in a loop through a forested area into Washington Park. The biggest challenge came from building the elevated track with all manual labor, said Jesse Rodriguez, president of R&R, which is a certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.

鈥淭ypically, for heavy industrial rail, you have heavy industrial equipment,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey don’t make equipment for this type of rail construction. We had to go traditional with old-style air compressors, hammers and jacks.鈥�

The new railway will feature all-new track, switches and ties, along with a roundabout trestle that will allow trains to either make a U-turn or continue to Washington Park. Rail passengers will be able to board at an elevated platform, see parts of the wildlife exhibits and make a big loop, or head out to the park, Rodriguez said.

鈥淲e had to accommodate the trestle and the grades of the track,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he train house is higher in elevation than the trestle.鈥�

The complex alignment was designed by KPFF Consulting Engineers, Dykeman said.

Track construction is set to finish Oct. 31, with operations beginning Nov. 4, Rodriguez said.