BNSF replaces South Transcon mainline bridge in two weekends

BNSF Railway Co. recently completed the replacement of a railroad bridge near Fenner, California, on its Southern Transcon mainline, which connects the West Coast with the Midwest.

Over two weekends, contractor crews from Kraemer North America and BNSF replaced a 350-foot-long, double-track concrete beam bridge with new steel beams and track panels. Teams worked around the clock, BNSF officials said in a post on social media platform X yesterday. Work was completed slightly ahead of schedule.

The new bridge was replaced one track at a time, which allowed about 150 trains to cross on the opposite track during construction. The work was challenging due to the bridge’s remote location, BNSF Director of Bridge Construction Mike Herzog said. But the completed new bridge will stand for “generations to come," he added.