New Southern Tier bridge opened by Norfolk Southern
Written by Railway Age Staff
Norfolk Southern has inaugurated train service on the new Portageville Bridge crossing the 235-foot-deep river gorge in New York’s Letchworth State Park.
The crossing of the first train on the Southern Tier span capped two years of construction to replace the original iron truss bridge built in 1875 by the Erie Railroad over the Genesee River Gorge.
Known regionally as the Portage Bridge, the 963-foot-long steel arch structure in the southwestern region of the state connects the east-west line running from Buffalo to Albany. The $75 million project will speed up train traffic and permit heavier rail car loads, eliminating a major rail bottleneck for shippers.
The bridge was funded through a public-private partnership among Norfolk Southern, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration.
At 2:20 p.m. Monday, Norfolk Southern’s 36T, an eastbound merchandise train running from Buffalo to Allentown, Pa., with stops in Corning and Binghamton, N.Y., became the first to run across the new bridge.
“This is a very exciting day for Norfolk Southern and for the future of freight rail service in New York’s Southern Tier region,” said James A. Squires, NS chairman, president and chief executive “The successful completion of this bridge is an excellent demonstration of how the public and private sectors can work together on freight transportation projects that generate significant public benefits and are vital to U.S. commerce. It’s also a testament to Norfolk Southern’s robust bridge program and the ingenuity of engineers and railroaders.”
“The new Portageville Bridge complements the beauty of Letchworth State Park while providing safer, more efficient freight rail service,” said New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. “Through a combined effort with Norfolk Southern, government leaders and the public, we have built a modern arch bridge which will support economic growth in the region and continue our drive to strengthen and modernize transportation infrastructure across the state for generations to come.”
In addition to enhancing rail safety and operating efficiencies, the new bridge expands freight capacity and business opportunities for shippers from the Midwest to New England. With the new bridge, Norfolk Southern can now transport rail cars over the Southern Tier Line loaded to the industry standard 286,000 pounds, a key benefit for customers. The old bridge limited car weights to 13,000 pounds below the standard, while train speed was restricted to 10 mph. Trains crossing the new bridge will operate at up to 30 mph.
“I’m immensely pleased with the revitalization of the Portageville Bridge,” said New York State Assemblyman David DiPietro. “Investing in infrastructure and supporting businesses that create it is central to a strong economy. The jobs created by these ventures and the efforts surrounding the Portageville Bridge are vital to our local economy. Creating opportunities to expand both business markets and infrastructure is something we must always stress, and this is the perfect union to achieve that.”
Among those benefitting are 10 short line railroads that service and connect local industries to Norfolk Southern’s network. The Class 1 hauls freight over the Southern Tier Line for about 1,100 customers in more than 20 states. The line also serves as a gateway for trade with Canada and provides a connection to New York City and New England markets.
The design and construction budget for the bridge project included $15.5 million provided through New York State, including a $2 million grant from the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and $13.5 million in state and federal funds through the New York State Department of Transportation, and $59.5 million from Norfolk Southern.
“This new, state-of-the art bridge over the Genesee River Gorge is an engineering marvel and will enhance train traffic across the region,” said New York State Sen. Patrick M. Gallivan. “It also complements the beauty of Letchworth State Park and helps to restore the river to its natural state for the first time in nearly 150 years. This public-private sector project, funded by New York State, the Federal Highway Administration, and Norfolk Southern, will serve our community for decades.”
The bridge’s arch design minimizes the railroad’s environmental footprint in the Genesee River Gorge and complements the scenic vistas found in Letchworth State Park.
