Aging Railroad Bridges Replaced in St. Louis
Date Posted: April 30, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Organizations,
From ENR: In existence since 1889 and for about 100 years previously under another name, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) owns 50 miles of mainline railroad track, a major classification yard and other outlying yards, two Mississippi River bridges, riverfront ports and other facilities that function as an economic driver for the Missouri and Illinois regions.
TRRA works to ensure that freight and passenger trains continue to move smoothly through the St. Louis terminal.
In recognition of its support of commerce over the Mississippi and for meeting the demands of financing and reconstructing aging bridges to meet contemporary railroad needs, ENR Midwest has named TRRA as its 2024 Owner of the Year.
TRRA Takes on Two Bridges
Even before construction was complete on the Merchants Bridge, the older of the two bridges, TRRA began work on the MacArthur Bridge, an ongoing project that has already resulted in the replacement of a single span truss with a three-span girder bridge, demolition of the abandoned roadway bridges and installation of a retaining wall.
The $222-million replacement of the Merchants Bridge, which serves five Class 1 railroads and Amtrak, was completed in 2022. The original bridge dated to 1890 and was designed by George Morrison, who designed some of the first large-scale steel truss bridges in the country.
As years rolled by and the Merchants Bridge and the MacArthur Bridge, which opened in 1917, continued to age, TRRA faced a decision.
“The question was major rehabilitation of the bridges or obsolescence. The ultimate decision was major rehab—in fact, replacement,” says Eric Fields, chief engineer for TRRA.
Increasing Rail Capacity
The replacement Merchants Bridge, which earned a Best Project award in ENR Midwest’s highway/bridge category in 2023, will increase rail bridge capacity to help meet the anticipated increased demand in rail tonnage of over 49% and boost economic activity by $456 million over the next 20 years, TRRA projects.