New W. 39th Street Bridge helps advance rail projects

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the City of Vancouver Nov. 3 will celebrate completion of the first of four projects to help make passenger rail a more viable alternative for travelers up and down the I-5 corridor. The $11-million Vancouver Rail - Rail Bypass and W. 39th Street Bridge project built a two-lane vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian bridge that takes W. 39th Street up over seven sets of railroad tracks in the Vancouver rail yard.

The bridge was a crucial
piece of WSDOT’s plans to improve rail mobility through Vancouver. It had to be
built in order for BNSF to construct two additional bypass tracks that will
allow passenger trains to avoid rail yard congestion.

Bypass tracks are the
second project in the four-project series. In the coming years, WSDOT plans
construction of a new main track and southern connections to Pasco and
Portland, Ore.

"The 39th Street Bridge in
Vancouver is one piece of a larger strategy of investing in rail-mobility improvements
in the Amtrak Cascades corridor," said Washington Transportation Secretary
Paula Hammond.

Washington this year
received $590 million in Recovery Act high-speed rail funds. The money will be
used to improve rail corridor infrastructure, add additional Amtrak Cascades
service and reduce rail-line congestion.

The Port of Vancouver also
received federal grant money this year to improve the movement of freight
trains and vehicular traffic in and around the port.

WSDOT, the City of
Vancouver, other partners and local community members will cut the ribbon on
the new W. 39th Street Bridge at 11 a.m. Nov. 3. The bridge officially opens to
all traffic at 2 p.m.