KCI supported the Long Island Rail Road’s ADA Station Improvements Program to provide full accessibility solutions at three locations.
To upgrade the Laurelton, St. Albans, and Locust Manor stations, new infrastructure needed to be constructed within an active rail corridor without disrupting thousands of daily users. Serving as the construction engineering partner to the joint venture contractor, KCI developed constructability-driven solutions to enable complex underground construction beneath live tracks. Temporary steel-framed trestle systems were designed to support active rail loads during excavation, allowing installation of permanent structures below without disrupting service. Excavation support systems exceeding 25 feet in height, including soldier piles, lagging, internal walers, and struts, were engineered to maintain ground stability and protect adjacent infrastructure in tightly constrained station environments.
Limited track outage windows and challenging subsurface conditions required close coordination and rapid problem-solving. KCI introduced specialized hollow-core grouted tieback systems to improve installation efficiency and adapt to dense, utility-congested soils and buried obstructions. Ongoing field coordination and responsive engineering allowed the team to address unforeseen conditions in real time while maintaining construction progress.
Through careful coordination and constructability-driven design, construction advanced beneath active rail lines without interrupting service, allowing the project to be delivered on schedule. The completed stations now offer modern, fully accessible elevators, pedestrian tunnels, and other upgrades that improve passenger movement, enhance safety, and support continued use of one of the region’s busiest commuter rail systems.
