Second rail bridge to be built over Osage River

Monday, February 6, 2012

OSAGE CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri transportation officials have approved construction of a new railroad bridge over the Osage River in central Missouri.

Completion of the bridge will eliminate the final spot between Jefferson City and St. Louis where there is only a single railroad track. Officials say that will allow Amtrak passenger trains and freight trains to travel faster through eastern Missouri.

Officials plan to build a second bridge adjacent to the existing span. The project is estimated to cost $20 million. Work is scheduled to start in March and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

The bridge is the first significant rail infrastructure project in Missouri funded through the federal stimulus act.

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gofish 1 year, 3 months ago

This bridge is desparately needed, I just feel cheated that the taxpayers are footing the bill instead of the Union Pacific RR who will see 99% of the benefit. Especially in an economy where legislators are looking to privatize I-70 at my expense.

kentheco 1 year, 3 months ago

This bridge, for the largest railroad in the United States, is being built using Missouri tax-payers money based on the claim that it will speed up passenger service between St Louis and Jefferson City. Okay so the Amtrak train gets to Jefferson City sooner twice a day. It still won’t go any faster between Jefferson City and Kansas City since there is only single track West on the Sedalia sub-division.

In reality this bridge will allow for faster coal trains that come down the River sub-division heading east. The Union Pacific routes the empty coal trains West on the Sedalia sub-division, where Amtrak runs.

asb 1 year, 3 months ago

I don't see MODOT actually paying for it in the story, just approving it. However, MODOT pays millions for highways to drive our jihad wagons on, why not a rail bridge that can actually reduce our funding of the Islamic extremists war on us.

JCLifer 1 year, 3 months ago

MoDOT is really the "Highway Department". Other than bike bridges and a few trails, they really aren't into other modes of transportation much.

him 1 year, 3 months ago

They used to be the "highway department". They are now "Department of Transportation" which includes railroad and air and pedestrian. It all goes through MoDOT

kentheco 1 year, 3 months ago

If you look back, Governor Nixon approved the stimulus funding in exchange for the Boonville Bridge to no-where. Here is the history of the tax-payer involvement:

“From ABC 17 News, Columbia: Historic MKT Bridge at Boonville to be Preserved Agreement between Missouri and Union Pacific Reached in Principle. Posted on Thu Feb 4, 2010

Governor Jay Nixon today announced that Missouri has reached an agreement-in-principle with Union Pacific Railroad that will preserve the historic MKT railroad lift bridge over the Missouri River at Boonville.

In the agreement Union Pacific will turn ownership over to Boonville; in return the state will use $23 million in stimulus funds to build a bridge over the Osage River near Jefferson City for Union Pacific to use. Union Pacific will also help with the cost, about $6 million.”

jcmo5266 1 year, 3 months ago

How will this affect boat traffic on the Osage River this summer? Could someone research this and do an update to this story please? I'm sure there are many who will be interested in this information.

BigRedOne 1 year, 3 months ago

Regardless of how anyone feels about the bridge in Boonville, Union Pacific was going to move “their” bridge to Osage City at their own expense. I don’t see the bridge in Boonville being used for anything other than a yard ornament as it is too costly to convert it to be used as part of the bike trail. The stimulus funds now being used on the new bridge could have been used elsewhere such as on I70 or Hwy. 50, or etc. As for boat traffic, there shouldn’t be any more disruption than any other bridge being built over a river.

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