Bay St. Louis Bridge Rebuild

Hytec · Dec 4, 2005

MSNBC published an article back in October about rebuilding the Bay St. Louis Bridge on the CSX New Orleans & Mobile Sudivision.

r_i_straw · Dec 4, 2005

wow, thanks for the cool link.

BoxcabE50 · Dec 4, 2005

I hope we can see some photos of this work, in progress. That would be very interesting!!!

Boxcab E50

Hytec · Dec 5, 2005

Ken, did you click on the audio slide show? That at least gave a dozen or so views of the work in progress.

I doubt if I would be allowed to hitch a ride on one of their skiffs or tugs...they're kinda narrrow minded that way, doncha know...

BTW, I found this site through a Google search of "NO&M". I'll try to search for "CSX Katrina Bridge Repair"...who knows?

BoxcabE50 · Dec 5, 2005

Hank-

Do you mean where it says "click Play below..."? If so, I don't see any "Play" to click??? Where do I look?

Boxcab E50

r_i_straw · Dec 5, 2005

http://risingfromruin.msnbc.com/2005/10/bridging_the_ba.html

Down the page where it says play audio slide show.

mmi16 · Dec 21, 2005

Fromt a CSX Employee Press Release

CSX
Taking the High Road to Recovery
News Archive

Released: Dec 19, 2005

In the months following Katrina, CSXT's Bridge Team has successfully orchestrated a dramatic recovery along the Gulf.

The history books may say what they will, but CSXT's aggressive plan to rebuild its battered Gulf Coast infrastructure may have reset the bar on bridge engineering feats.

The hurricane took out six major CSXT bridges and six smaller ones. As December comes to a close, just four months after the storm, the smaller bridges are finished. Restoration of the fifth major bridge has been wrapped up and track is being laid. The last and most heavily damaged bridge, which spans Bay St. Louis, is running a month ahead of schedule and should be complete in early February 2006.

"In all fairness, we had excellent weather with few inclement days since Katrina," said Rick Garro, assistant chief engineer-structures. "Plus, we have two contractors working at Bay St. Louis to see who can outdo the other."

CSXT Engineering's rebuilding plan was hashed out in early September after teams assessed the damage and initiated the work, both for the bridges and for the track along the shoreline. "As it turns out, we made some good decisions about the work based on those initial inspections," Garro said.

Managers Donnie Peterson, Larry Wallace and Tom Paine are the key CSXT Bridge team employees overseeing the rebuilding projects.

Good for CSXT; Good for the Communities

At the height of the rebuilding effort, just before Thanksgiving, about 600 workers - employees of both CSXT and its contractors - were on the ground along the Gulf. Although the rebuilding projects have been costly for the company, they've brought their own kind of healing to the devastated Gulf Coast.

"We can see how getting the railroad back in service helps communities re-establish themselves," Garro said. First, contractors moved in, hired some local employees and rented space for their cranes and equipment on properties that could sustain nothing else. Also, Garro said, wherever possible, CSXT used local suppliers for the materials needed to rebuild. The impact of working with a local concrete supplier in Bay St. Louis, a small lumber store in Pass Christian, and a girder supplier in southern Alabama has helped these local firms and the community to get back on their feet.

"And everywhere," Garro said, "you see members of the community come out and check on our progress. You'll see them at the water's edge, pointing and waving. It seems to help their morale."

From what he's seen and heard, Garro concludes there is a whole new attitude about the railroad growing along the Gulf Coast. He visited the mayor's office in Bay St. Louis to thank city officials for their cooperation. There he met with the city's director of engineering, who offered an unusually positive spin on train traffic.

"The guy said he used to curse the trains, which numbered about 34 a day through there." Garro said. "But now he says it will be music to his ears when they start up again."

Click to expand...

Hytec · Dec 21, 2005

mmi16, that's great news! Thanks for sharing it.

Has the Biloxi Bridge been opened for traffic? I saw a southbound fully loaded tie and ballast train come through Gulfport this morning. Since the train was still north of the KCS interchange, I assume it had crossed the Biloxi Bridge...?

BoxcabE50 · Dec 21, 2005

Originally posted by mmi16:
"The guy said he used to curse the trains, which numbered about 34 a day through there." Garro said. "But now he says it will be music to his ears when they start up again."
Click to expand...

Certainly they don't want to lose any property tax revenues, if the RR were not rebuilt.

Anyhow, sounds like great news. I wonder if any of the RR video outfits have been documenting this work. Would be a very unique production. I'd buy a copy!

Boxcab E50

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Bay St. Louis Bridge Rebuild

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