Case Study: Brightline Rail, Florida

From engineering support to smart formwork solutions that drove efficiency and safety, PERI played a critical role in the construction of new bridges as part of the expansion of Brightline Rail, Florida’s high-speed commuter rail system.

Brightline Rail, a high-speed passenger rail system, is upgrading existing crossings and building new bridges to expand service across the state of Florida. The resulting expansion of the system will offer millions of commuters an eco-friendly way to travel between Tampa, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. The expansion is anticipated to generate $6.4 billion in economic impact statewide over the next eight years and create more than 2,000 jobs. Because it will enable riders to hop on board a train versus driving their passenger cars, Brightline will also remove 72,000 metric tons of CO2 from the air annually.  

Key to the expansion of the rail service is the construction of bridges along the train lines. Brightline and contractor Granite Construction turned to the expertise of PERI USA for a rentable formwork solution for three bridges between Orlando and Cocoa.

Delivering Efficiency  

Developing a solution for bridge decks on steel girders led the engineering team to select PERI’s VARIOKIT system with GT 24 Girders to support the deck with large bracket spacing. PERI’s engineered solution delivered an efficient and lean system, striking a balance between hanger capacity, bracket spacing, and hanger rod loading to provide the optimal system.

In addition to being efficient in operation, the crew could preassemble all equipment on the ground, reducing crew time in the air and making the site safer.

VARIOKIT offers standardized components for a wide range of civil engineering that can be combined with PERI formwork for a customized, economical bridge formwork solution. With fitting pin connections and simple adaptation spindles, operations are accelerated, and assembly time is minimized. VARIOKIT is highly efficient due to rentable components and statically optimized planning processes. 

GT 24 girders are versatile lattice girders with high load-bearing capacity and rigidity, therefore reducing material usage and workload. They also provide an option that reduces the need to buy and later dispose of dimensional lumber. The girders are compatible with other PERI products and feature latticework construction, allowing for easy connection of site accessories. 

Beyond formwork solutions, PERI USA provided engineering support and a site tech to the project team to ensure the system was implemented properly and performed in the most efficient manner.  

All Aboard  

After six months of construction, bridges 6 and 8 opened in the spring of 2022. Bridge 22 opened in the fall of 2022.