Norfolk, Neb., rail bridge repair nears completion
Written by jrood
Generators drown out the quiet, slow moving Elkhorn River these days. It's a dramatic difference from the roaring, rushing water as Norfolk, Neb., flooded in June, local media report.
Nearby debris is the only
evidence of Norfolk’s rail bridge horrific collapse less than two months ago.
The same spans that just days ago sat covered in mud now cross the river once
again. "Very minimal damage for everything they went through. They were
built back when they built really good bridges," said Thiesen Construction
President Pat Gubbels.
Construction crews used
cranes and dozers to pull each piece of steel from the mud and built new
supports. "I can’t even tell you the tonnage we had pulling with it,"
Gubbels added.
On August 4, cranes
delivered railroad ties to dozens of men working long days to finish the bridge
as soon as safely possible. That came as great news to Nucor-Vulcraft, one of
Norfolk’s biggest shippers by rail.
"It has had a huge
impact, as far as financially on our company, due to the bridge being out, but
again our ability to take care of our customers has not been jeopardized in the
slightest," explained General Manager Doyle Hopper.
Nebraska Central Railroad
staff say contractors’ coordination allowed for the quick construction, though
it comes at a cost. NCR Safety Manager Chad Korth said nothing’s been added up
yet, but "It will be a considerable expense to the Nebraska Central
Railroad."
Thiesen Construction,
responsible for the project, said the bridge could be open for traffic in two
weeks, weather permitting.
