12/20/23
Winter '23 Update
The first construction season for the new railroad bridge between Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota is coming to a close. Like others in the region, our winter activity is dictated by weather, and mild temperatures kept crews working through most of December.
As we wrap up 2023, here’s what’s happened to date:
- Crews mobilized this spring and started project work with clearing trees on BNSF property on both sides of the river.
- An access road was constructed on ND Department of Transportation right of way for trucks hauling equipment and material.
- The embankment for the new bridge, located north of the existing bridge, is about 35% complete.
- Also completed is the dock wall on the west side of the river. The dock wall facilitates construction of the piers as it allows rebar and cranes to be transferred onto barges.
- Crews have driven the sheet pile and are close to completing the cofferdam, on the west side of the river, in which Pier 8 will be constructed.
- The sheet pile for the cofferdam at new Pier 9 has been driven. The cofferdam has not been excavated yet.
- BNSF received all the necessary permits and approvals for the project. Two state permits issued by the North Dakota Department of Water Resources are being challenged. The North Dakota Supreme Court heard arguments in November related to the dismissal of the challenge by the North Dakota District Court. The Supreme Court’s decision is pending.
Construction site viewed from the northwest of the existing bridge.
Heading into 2024, here’s what you can expect:
- Depending on the weather, driving H pile for Pier 8 on the west side of the river may start yet this winter.
- In the spring, activity on the Bismarck side will ramp up with construction of a dock wall.
- Throughout the summer, work will take place constructing piers on the east bank as well as in the river, and piers on the west bank.
- Crews will work concurrently on pier construction on the east and west sides of the river, always leaving a channel open for recreational boaters.
- Some spans on the very east and west ends of the new bridge may be hoisted in place.