Alaska Railroad holds groundbreaking ceremony for North Rail Extension Project

Written by jrood

Phase One of Alaska's Northern Rail Extension project is just underway with construction beginning on a bridge over the Tanana River at Salcha, Alaska. A project ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 28, at the construction staging area. The ground-breaking ceremony will feature members of Alaska's congressional delegation, governor's office, local community dignitaries and railroad executives. The event will celebrate the start of the long-anticipated rail extension, which is expected to boost local and state economies with millions of dollars spent on local equipment, materials, supplies and lodging. More than 200 construction jobs are projected during the summer months and about two dozen year-round. The multi-phased Northern Rail Extension project will eventually expand railroad track infrastructure from North Pole / Eielson, 80 miles southeast to Delta Junction. It is expected to be a three-year effort, NRE Phase One will construct a new bridge across the river and an associated levee. The Environmental Impact Statement was completed in 2010.

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