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Nebraska Central Railroad Co. recently opened a new steel beam-span, 209-foot-long rail bridge in Norfolk, Neb., that replaces a through-truss style, 98-foot-long bridge built in 1889. Bridge contractor K & R Construction began the project on Sept. 11 and completed the work on Oct. 11.

The new six-span bridge features increased capacity to accommodate 286,000-pound rail cars, said Nebraska Central officials in a prepared statement.

"Based upon customer projections, we decided the time was right to upgrade," said Nebraska Central President Richard Bertel. "And once we decided, the project was completed in record time, with virtually no interruption of service."

The key categories of freight moved through Norfolk include scrap and finished steel, ethanol, frac sand and grain. Owned by Rio Grande Pacific Corp., the 340-mile Nebraska Central interchanges with BNSF Railway Co. and Union Pacific Railroad.