This past September, Hurricane Helene and its resulting floods damaged or destroyed more than 13 miles of track on a Norfolk Southern Railway line between Newport, Tenn., and Asheville, N.C., forcing the line to close. About a month after the storm, though, another problem arose. A steel bridge over the Pigeon River near Newport collapsed, adding a rapid bridge replacement project to a lengthy list of fixes on the line. Originally, the existing two-span bridge appeared to need only a pier repair.
AISC full-member fabricator Veritas Steel helped the railroad complete a replacement bridge about four months after it signed a production order. Veritas signed the agreement on November 5, began fabrication on December 20, delivered the first girders on February 23, and ended delivery on March 13. Construction on the bridge finished in late March, and the railroad reopened the line on May 20. Veritas allocated additional time and labor to finish the girders quickly and put other projects on hold.
The new bridge has three spans, each approximately 106 ft. Each span has eight girders, and the 24 total girders weigh 353 tons. Four girders per span are 72 ft long, and four others are 34 ft long. All girders have a 7-ft, 8-in. web depth (8 ft including flange thickness). They’re finished with a three-coat paint system. Veritas worked with construction manager Hall Contracting of Kentucky, Inc., and designer HDR.
The quick turnaround and reopening provide another example of the steel industry’s ability to collaborate when an unexpected rapid replacement project arises. That mentality is highlighted in more detail in Modern Steel Construction's feature, "All Hands on Deck," published in December 2023. AISC also has resources to help all parties involved in an emergency repair project. Visit aisc.org/bridge-emergency to find steps to design and fabricate a steel bridge fast and to read about prior emergency repair projects. And if you’re looking for ways to make non-emergency bridge projects go faster, check out Accelerated Steel: Achieving Speed in Steel Bridge Fabrication, a free National Steel Bridge Alliance resource available at aisc.org/fasterbridgefab.