BNSF Working To Remove Debris After Bridge Collapse
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
BNSF
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – On June 23rd, a BNSF train bridge sustained damage due to flooding.
At around 11p.m., it was reported by Keloland that the middle of the bridge collapsed into the Big Sioux River. BNSF’s Kendall Sloan said, “BNSF is working with the local levee board and the Army Corps of Engineers on finalizing the plan to remove the bridge from the river as quickly and safely as possible.” It was reported that BNSF is continuing to monitor the region via increased track inspections. Operations are routed to Creston, Iowa.
The regulatory chief of the Army Corps district office in Omaha, Eric Laux, said that work to remove debris must be done with the Army Corps “because the bridge is located near a federal levee.” Additionally, BNSF would need to acquire an Army Corps permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act if that work includes using fill on a bank. Moreover, any construction that necessitates any changes to the original structure would also require a permit.
Kendall Sloan also said that “a consultant engineer will remain on site to monitor the bridge for any changes, so we can react if needed.”
