Ames Construction: Rapid Response to Rail Emergencies

Ames Construction

BIG SIOUX RIVER ––When a record-breaking flood caused the partial collapse of a BNSF rail bridge over the Big Sioux River, Ames Construction responded with people and equipment to remove the damaged structure.

The emergency project was just the latest opportunity for Ames to demonstrate its capabilities in support of the rail industry.

Heavy rains and severe flooding in Sioux City, Iowa, in late June 2024 destroyed homes, damaged property, and closed roadways and businesses. Before it was over, the Big Sioux River crested about 7 feet higher than the previous record.

One of the swollen river’s casualties was a BNSF rail bridge. After it partially collapsed on June 23, BNSF turned to Ames Construction to remove the damaged bridge from the river.

Ames Construction is a full-service, heavy civil and industrial general contractor that provides solutions without surprises to its clients. The Minnesota-based company has been a long-time, reliable partner in the railroad industry across the United States. Ames’ portfolio includes Class 1 mainline construction, capacity improvement and expansion projects, intermodal facility construction, bridge replacements, and rehabilitation work. Among other projects, Ames recently completed construction of BNSF’s Sandpoint Junction Connector Project in Idaho, building a 4,873-foot rail bridge over Lake Pend Oreille for a second mainline.

For emergency rail projects, Ames is uniquely diversified to perform the wide variety of tasks needed to get operations back to normal faster, according to Ames Construction Manager Mike Pamperin.  

“For this emergency project, we needed to haul in over 50,000 tons of rock, build levees, conduct the bridge demolition, perform clearing and grubbing, conduct site planning with BNSF and multiple agencies, while focusing on cost control,” he says. “Ames provided all of the equipment and people needed to work double shifts. We were able to help BNSF take care of all of its needs.”

Bringing down a bridge

Built in 1903, the bridge consisted of two trusses, 152 feet each. The bridge is part of BNSF’s Aberdeen Subdivision and is also used by BNSF’s Short Line partner, D&I Railroad.

On June 29, Ames mobilized to the site, ultimately devoting more than a dozen people along with dozers, excavators, cranes, and other equipment from its massive, late-model fleet.

In close partnership with BNSF, Ames assessed the situation and developed a work plan to remove the damaged bridge. The center pier had tipped over and was still moving; the truss spans also appeared to be unstable. The group determined that there was no safe way to stabilize the structure in order to dismantle it. The solution was to use explosive demolition to drop the trusses into the river so that they could be safely removed, broken down, and hauled away.

Collaborating with BNSF and Olsson Engineering, Ames obtained permits for working on the levee by August 8. Crews installed causeway access roads prior to the detonations, which were conducted in two operations.

Ames conducted the first controlled detonation on the South Dakota side of the bridge on Aug. 19. The second controlled detonation on the Iowa side of bridge was conducted three weeks later, on Sept. 6. Demolition activities were complete by Sept. 13, and Ames demobilized by Sept. 26.

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Deploying emergency solutions and support

The bridge demolition and removal in Sioux City is just the latest chapter in Ames’ history of providing emergency support for its rail clients. For 30 years, Ames has provided solutions to our Class I and Short Line partners. These demanding projects require communication, coordination, and innovation to return the line back to service as quickly and safely as possible.

In March 2019, widespread flooding damaged the entire transportation system in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. Ames mobilized more than 100 railroaders for emergency response across the three states.

Within a day of the call from BNSF, Ames deployed to a site near La Platte, Nebraska, where the BNSF mainline over the Platte River was damaged. Ames constructed a causeway to access the bridge, recovered damaged bridge components from the floodwaters, and replaced bridge spans.

Working with BNSF and other contractors, the project was designed and built as it progressed. Scheduled 24/7, Ames self-performed more than 90 percent of the work with upwards of 50 workers on-site during peak construction. The mainline was back in service in less than three weeks—ahead of schedule—with final project costs well under budget.

BNSF also called on Ames to perform a grade repair in Bartlett, Iowa, where the embankment under a 2,300-foot stretch of mainline, including a bridge over a leveed river, was wiped out. The tracks were back in service 50 days from the start of the project.

Delivering performance

When rail companies choose Ames, they get performance, not just promises. We deliver brilliant solutions to your most complex problems—whenever and wherever you need us. Let’s talk about solutions without surprises for your project. Visit www.amesconstruction.com or contact:

T. Craig Morgan
Vice President, Freight Rail & Industrial Development
[email protected]
Phone: 817-739-7458