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8/8/2023
BNSF Railway Co.’s inaugural train trip across the new Sandpoint Junction Connector in Idaho took place Aug. 6, marking the final step of the project to build the bridge over Lake Pend Oreille.
The trip represented the official opening of two-way traffic on the bridge, enabling both lines to carry freight simultaneously, BNSF officials said in a press release.
BNSF began constructing a second bridge over the lake in 2019, adjacent to the existing bridge. The two bridges run parallel to each other, approximately 50 feet apart. The new structure was completed in late 2022 and opened to rail service in November, nearly a year ahead of schedule, BNSF officials said.
Completion of the new bridge allowed BNSF to begin modernizing the original bridge, built in 1904. It has been under construction since last year and closed for maintenance upgrades until now. New bridges over Sand Creek and Bridge Street in Sandpoint were also constructed.
The upgrades will reduce congestion and help move current and future freight traffic more efficiently, significantly reducing idle times for trains. Drivers should see shorter wait times on nearby roads and streets that cross BNSF tracks, company officials said.
"The completion of this bridge is a big win for our customers and the community, especially before the start of the fall harvest season," said John Cech, BNSF's vice president of engineering. "This bridge will be critical moving forward to address our long-term growth and will allow us to meet customer expectations for the next century or more."