UP, Amtrak to commemorate bridge opening in Missouri next week

On Monday, Union Pacific Railroad, Amtrak, Federal Railroad Administration and Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) officials will attend a ceremony in Osage City, Mo., to open a new railroad bridge crossing the Osage River.

The new bridge eliminates the last major bottleneck between St. Louis and Jefferson City, Mo., where two tracks funneled to one at the river crossing, UP officials said in a media advisory. The new structure also significantly improves freight- and passenger-rail service in the state, they said.

Delays will be reduced for Amtrak Missouri River Runner trains traveling between Kansas City and St. Louis; more than 60 trains operate along the 275-mile corridor daily.

The 1,200-foot bridge was built by OCCI Inc. The $28 million project, which began in March 2012, was funded in part by a $22.6 million High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program grant. MoDOT received the multi-million-dollar award under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.