New bridges over troubled waters

By MIKE PAGEL 
Staff writer  

It’s not exactly what Paul Simon was singing about in his hit song, but the lyrics might fit.  

Along the Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead, Minnesota, region, troubled waters sometimes rise from the Red River because of its unique low gradient and northward flow, making this one of the most flood-prone areas in the U.S.  

BNSF is among a coalition of stakeholders and leaders on both sides of the river who are working to bring permanent, reliable flood protection to communities in the area. 

The Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) is leading the charge by constructing a 33-mile-long flood diversion channel to help alleviate flooding. This channel will cross BNSF’s network in three locations, requiring a new bridge be built at each river crossing. 

Until construction on the bridges is complete, several temporary shooflies are in operation in the Fargo-Moorhead area to divert rail traffic. (A shoofly is a temporary track.) 

Construction of the bridges has been a cooperative effort. BNSF engineering teams are building the new rail, ties and ballast for the shooflies as well as the final, raised track. MFDA is performing all other construction work. BNSF will own and maintain the new bridges.  

Steve Lyne, division engineer, Twin Cities Division, has been impressed with the progress.  

“It’s amazing what we can accomplish when everybody comes together with a common goal,” Lyne said. “The sheer amount of work that was put in by the local teams to build these four shoofly tracks and balance their normal workload in an expedited timeline speaks of the teamwork at BNSF. The complexity of the project and getting it done safely highlights the tremendous partnerships we have across all crafts, public entities and communities involved.”