Construction of an access road to support the building of a new BNSF Railway bridge across the Missouri River between Bismark and Mandan, North Dakota began on Wednesday, June 21.
Railroad and North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) officials say the construction will cause some traffic delays.
During work on the NDDOT right-of-way, a shoulder closure with a 12-foot width restriction will be in place on the Memorial Highway exit ramp with a lane closure on northbound I-194 to the underpass.
The speed limit will be reduced throughout the corridor, and flaggers may be on duty to help direct traffic. Construction for the access road is expected to be completed in July.
Although the access road is being built, construction of the new bridge is currently on hold.
The existing Bismarck-Mandan Rail Bridge was built in 1883, with its spans replaced in 1905. BNSF said a modern structure is needed as the bridge has reached the end of its lifespan.
After a three-year environmental review of the bridge the U.S. Coast Guard agreed and said that the bridge should be removed, and the new bridge should be moved approximately 20 feet upstream.
BNSF has acquired all necessary state and federal permits to begin construction, but a local nonprofit citizen group, The Friends of the Rail Bridge, has challenged two permits in court to preserve the existing bridge and create a pedestrian bridge out of it.
The case is currently pending.
The existing bridge will be in service until the new one is operational. Total cost for construction and removal is estimated at more than $64 million.
The railroad expects construction of a new bridge to take 2-3 years once it begins.
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Source: The Morton County and Mandan News
