P21webThe revised design for the Spent Pot Liner (SPL) cap to ensure material from the former Alcoa/Evergreen aluminum site remains protected was successfully installed inside the port’s rail loop track thanks to Apollo Inc. and their subcontractor ACF.

Crews began work early Thursday, January 31 by prepping the surface, rolling out protective fabric in sections, overlapping the material and stitching it together to make one continuous piece of fabric. The PVC liner, which consists of 70 foot wide sections were then placed. The seams were attached using a thermal welder to ensure no water is able to penetrate the layer. This PVC material is very similar to a waterbed or an inflatable rowboat.

Every seam was inspected and initialed upon completion and subsequent verification confirmed that the installation meets or exceeds the specified strengths. Crews are currently installing rock on top of the fabric and liner to support the expanded loop track.

Starting this week, remaining track will be installed and within two weeks we should see rail cars running on the new outer loop track. Apollo Inc. and Coast Rail will then begin to shift and reuse the existing track, while BNSF operates on the new outer track.

Additional progress during the past few weeks includes the placement of the exterior curb and the installation of new perimeter power, along with 26 perimeter street lights.