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On Oct. 18, BNSF Railway Co. plans to hold a public ceremony and reception to mark the completion of a new rail bridge over the Mississippi River in Burlington, Iowa. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) and Burlington Mayor Jim Davidson have been invited to attend the dedication ceremony at the Port of Burlington, along with BNSF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Matt Rose.

The bridge was replaced in two parts during four years of construction. The first project involved the replacement of the swing span with a new vertical lift span that more than doubled the navigation channel's width, while the second project focused on replacing the approach spans.

The original single-track bridge was built in 1868 and upgraded in 1893. About 40 trains, including two Amtrak trains, cross the river daily. The bridge opens about 300 times per month for river traffic.