INRD plans $17.5-million 2015 capex; focuses on bridges

Written by Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor
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Indiana Rail Road Company

The Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) released plans for a $17.5-million capital program in 2015 that will focus heavily on bridge projects, a trend it anticipates will continue in the future.

 

In its Spring 2015 Mileposts newsletter, INRD writes, “After an aggressive $20-million campaign in 2014 focused on rail and tie renewal, most of [INRD’s] $17.5-million in 2015 private-capital investments involve replacing or renewing bridges.”

INRD will also keep crews and contractors busy in 2015 with new rail installation, ballast and miles of undercutting scheduled.

The railroad points to a few notable bridge projects including the replacement of two timber bridges on the Chicago Subdivision between Linton and Elnora, Ind. Two concrete culverts will replace the northern bridge, while the southern bridge will be replaced by at 159-foot steel and reinforced-concrete ballast deck structure.

INRD also marked progress on the $14-million replacement of the 117-year-old White River bridge, which is scheduled to be finished by August. Renewal of the existing piers is complete, steel girders have been delivered and construction of the temporary bridge is underway.

“With 208 bridges on the INRD system, the annual inspection schedule for bridges requires thorough planning. Plus, every bridge over major waterways gets a dive inspection to assess pier conditions every five years.

“From an environmental standpoint, if bridge work results in disturbing wetlands or trees, mitigation through replacement of those public assets is required and work must be halted at certain times of the year so as not to disturb fish spawning or mating season for the endangered Indiana Bat,” writes the company.

The railroad says bridge work will continue to dominate its future capital plans with the replacement of a 112-foot timber bridge near Newton, Ill., scheduled in 2016. INRD also says to expect “the most aggressive bridge replacement program in the company’s history” in 2017. The Indianapolis Subdivision is scheduled to see eight timber bridges replaced with steel and reinforced concrete ballast decks. The railroad’s Shuffle Creek Trestle north of Bloomington, Ind., is also scheduled for renewal in 2017.

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