BNSF News

Plattsmouth Bridge construction continues ahead of schedule

2013-02-05

Construction of the new Plattsmouth Bridge over the Missouri River--where BNSF main line crosses from Iowa to Nebraska--continues ahead of schedule as workers take advantage of moderate winter weather.

"The Plattsmouth Bridge project is approximately 75 percent complete," said Larry Woodley, director, Bridge Construction. "Crews began working on this project in February 2012. Bridge construction is expected to conclude in late summer. Track construction will take place in September, and we expect the bridge to be in service in October 2013."

For this particular project, constructing a new bridge was more cost-effective than restoring the existing bridge. The new bridge is being constructed just 60 feet from the existing structure. And, to help improve velocity, switches will be installed on each end of the new bridge to allow empty trains to use the existing bridge as a siding, enabling revenue trains to pass.

New Plattsmouth Bridge details

• The new bridge is 1,683 feet long.
• The bridge truss span provides approximately 400 feet of clearance for river traffic.
• A 12-inch thick concrete wall, about 1,900 feet long and 45 feet high is being constructed along the Nebraska approach to the bridge. This wall provides support to the soils through this area.

The Plattsmouth Bridge was originally built in 1879 and renovated in 1903. Nearly 50 trains per day traverse the bridge, including coal, mixed freight, intermodal and Amtrak.

BNSF Headquarters

BNSF Railway Company
2650 Lou Menk Dr. 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 961057
Fort Worth, TX 76161-0057
Phone: (817) 352-1000

For more information on the company and its transportation solutions, visit the BNSF Web site at www.bnsf.com