The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) has named Terminal Island Wye Track Realignment at Pier S and Pier T at the Port of Long Beach (POLB) its Small Project of the Year (projects less than $25 million). The NRC presented the award to a project leader with HSW, a joint venture of Herzog Contracting and Stacy Witbeck, at the NRC's annual conference in Hollywood, Florida, on January 10, 2026.
The joint venture delivered this 18-month, $19.7million intermodal railyard expansion project ahead of schedule and without a safety incident. The project addressed the Port’s strategic goals to reduce truck congestion, speed up cargo shipped by on-dock rail, and minimize constraints that hamper cargo volumes.
HSW self-performed the track realignment and built 4,000 feet of siding track to connect two ends of the terminal facility by rail. Crews performed the following scope of work adjacent to active freight railroad operations:
POLB Senior Construction Manager David Tran said the project was a “complete success” and that HSW “was a great partner on this critical project and managed the project with flexibility, expertise, and professionalism.” He cited HSW’s knowledgeable and professional staff and said they were “fair, reasonable and transparent in negotiating changes to the work,” adding they were able “to work with the stakeholders to satisfy acceptable work windows and adjust their resources to complete the work.”
The active port environment presented a significant challenge to the project team. Crews performed work adjacent to active BNSF, Union Pacific, and Pacific Harbor Line freight trains in a port facility that continued operating 24 hours a day during construction. The HSW team was given one-day advance notice of train schedules and adapted work schedules to accommodate tight work windows for up to 15 trains daily in the project corridor. One of the project’s most challenging aspects involved a 36-hour shutdown to finalize crossover tie-ins, which was executed in a segmented manner to accommodate daily port operations
The project team logged 43,650 self-perform manhours without a safety incident, an exemplary record at a 24-hour port facility that remained active throughout 18 months of construction.
Major Subcontractors:
Major Suppliers:
About the NRC: The NRC is a U.S. trade association that advances the mutual interests of railway contractors and suppliers who construct, maintain and supply freight railroads and rail-transit and passenger lines. Founded in 1978, the NRC connects members with other railway industryprofessionals and government officials and policy makers. The NRC collaborates with its members, government, and industry leaders to create a positive business climate and to make railway construction and maintenance safer and more efficient.
NRC has been key in helping develop valuable relationships with a vast group of industry professionals that help us all improve and grow.
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A&K Railroad Materials, Inc.
