BNSF is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to construct a new railroad bridge and off-line single-track crossing over the Missouri River near Plattsmouth, Neb., and Pacific Junction, Iowa.

This crossing is a vital connection to BNSF's coal route from Powder Basin in Wyoming to the utilities and power plants that use the coal. The line also carries intermodal traffic, as well as two Amtrak trains daily between the west coast and Chicago.

The crossing will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge with new line south of the existing line. The existing bridge and track will remain operational after the new bridge is completed and its siding length will have a minimum of 10,000 feet clear for chambering trains.

The proposed bridge is 1,676 feet in length and will be ballasted with cast-in-place concrete deck composite with deck plate girders and with truss stringers. The piers will be solid shaft cast-in-place concrete. The layout of the main truss over the navigation channel will meet the requirements of the Coast Guard for horizontal and vertical clear opening.

The Corps of Engineers in soliciting comments from the public, federal, state and local agencies and officials, India Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this project.