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Later this month, BNSF Railway Co. plans to begin replacing seven approach spans on the Mississippi River bridge in Burlington, Iowa. The new approaches will complement a separate project begun last year by Ames Construction to replace the bridge’s swing span with a modern lift span, work that’s slated to conclude in March 2011.

Scheduled for completion in December 2011, the approach replacement project calls for prime contractor Walsh Construction to use new reinforced concrete foundations with 250-foot steel bridge spans, improving the structure’s overall capacity for freight and passenger trains, according to BNSF. The bridge is used by about 30 trains daily, including two Amtrak trains.

Meanwhile, the city of Shreveport, La., plans to spend $3 million to $4 million to build a rail bridge and underpass as part of grade crossing strategy. The city is working with Union Pacific Railroad and oil- and gas-field services firm Schlumberger to manage existing crossings and open a new one.

Under a plan proposed by Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, three crossings originally slated for closure would remain open, while a rail bridge and underpass would be constructed to improve traffic flow.