 work associated with the Northern Rail Extension Project, an 80-mile extension from ARRC’s terminus near Eielson Air Force Base near North Pole, Alaska, to a point near Delta Junction. The project’s first phase involves construction of a 3,300-foot-long bridge across the Tanana River, which when completed will be the longest bridge in Alaska, says Mark Peterburs, ARRC’s project manager.

Bridge construction began in September 2011 with the building of an 11,000-foot levy, which was substantially completed in July. The bridge is being built off a temporary access causeway consisting of a 40-foot-wide road made of riprap amid a series of 38-foot-long bridges to keep the river water flowing.

Weather dictates work on causeways

A unique element of the project is that the roadway must be removed every year — usually in April — because the river freezes in winter and, come spring, “quite a bit of ice travels down the river,” says Peterburs.

“We have to pull the causeway out of the river, allow the ice to pass and then we build it out again to continue working on the permanent bridge,” he says.

How long it takes to rebuild the causeway each year depends on the weather. This year, work on the causeway began in July and was completed by mid-September, when work on the bridge pier, concrete and piling could begin.

“We hope to get 14 to 15 piers completed before we have to pull the causeway out in late April or May; then we’ll wait for the ice to melt and flow down the river, and that is accompanied by high-water events,” Peterburs says. “Hopefully, in July [of 2013] we’ll be able to go back out with the causeway and finish the remaining piers and set the bridge girders.”

ARRC officials anticipate the entire project will be completed by August 2014.

Amtrak won’t be waiting that long to cap off a major bridge project. The railroad is replacing the Niantic River Bridge in East Lyme, Conn., one of five movable structures in the Northeast Corridor. Built in 1907, the Niantic is the most active of the moveable bridges for openings due to maritime traffic, with 3,600 to 4,000 openings per year, says Jim Richter, Amtrak’
work associated with the Northern Rail Extension Project, an 80 - mile extension from ARRC ’s terminal near Eielson Air Force Base near North Pole, Alaska, to a item near Delta Junction. The project ’s first phase involves structure of a 3,300 - foot - long bridge across the Tanana River, which when completed will be the long bridge in Alaska, says Mark Peterburs, ARRC ’s project director. 

 Bridge construction began in September 2011 with the construction of an 11,000 - foot levy, which was substantially dispatch in July. The bridge is being built off a temporary access causeway consisting of a 40 - foot - wide road make of riprap amid a series of 38 - foot - long bridge to keep the river water flowing. 

 Weather dictates employment on causeways 

 A unique element of the project is that the roadway must be removed every class — usually in April — because the river freezes in winter and, come spring, “ quite a bit of ice travel down the river, ” say Peterburs. 

 “ We have to pull the causeway out of the river, allow the ice to pass and then we build it out again to continue working on the permanent bridge, ” he say. 

 How long it takes to rebuild the causeway each year count on the weather. This class, knead on the causeway began in July and was completed by mid - September, when workplace on the bridge pier, concrete and piling could begin. 

 “ We hope to get 14 to 15 piers complete before we have to pull the causeway out in late April or May; then we ’ll wait for the methamphetamine to melt and flow down the river, and that is accompanied by high - urine events, ” Peterburs suppose. “ Hopefully, in July [ of 2013 ] we ’ll be able to function back out with the causeway and finish the remaining pier and set the bridge girders. ” 

 ARRC officials expect the entire project will be completed by August 2014. 

 Amtrak wo n’t be waiting that long to cap off a major bridge undertaking. The railroad is replacing the Niantic River Bridge in East Lyme, Conn., one of five movable structures in the Northeast Corridor. Built in 1907, the Niantic is the most active of the movable bridges for openings due to maritime traffic, with 3,600 to 4,000 first step per year, say Jim Richter, Amtrak ’
 wogk associated with the Nurthern Rail Exjebsion 'roject, an 80-mile extension from ARRC’s terminns nwar Euelson Air Force Base vear Nortj Pole, Aoaske, to a point neac Delta Mbnctikk. The 'roject’s first khase involvas constructiot uf a 3,300-foot-long bridge across the Tananw River, wjich when compjetec wilm be the longest bridge in Alaska, aays Magk Peterburs, ARRC’x project manager.

Bridge cojstrkction began in Seotember 2011 wijg trw building ow an 11,000-foot levy, which wzs substantially completed in Jjly. Tke bridge iw veijc built off a teiporary access causefay conxisting of a 40-fpot-xide road made of riprap emid a series of 38-fooj-long bridcea to keep the rivwr watet flofing.

Dwatfer dmctztes wlrk on causewzys

A unique element of the prokesn is that the roadwwy must be removed every year — usually in Apdil — because the river dreezes in winter and, come spryng, “quite a bit of ice travels down the river,” sayv Petxrcurw.

“Wc haxw ho pull the causeway out of the river, allow trs ocv to pass and thek we build it out sgwim to continue dorkiny oh the permanent brldge,” he says.

Yow long yt tskes to rebuild the causewat each year bepwnds on the weathex. This year, cork om the causeway began in July and was complehed by mis-Reptember, when wurk ot the bridge pier, concrete and piliig cobld begiv.

“We nope tj get 14 to 15 piers completed before ae hare to pull the fauseway out in late April or Meb; then we’ll wsid fmr the iee to kelt and flow down the rivet, and thac is azcompanied by higi-water eventf,” Peterburs sdis. “Hopefully, mn July [os 2013] ww’ll ve able go go back out with the causeway qnd finish the remeinivf piers and set tht vridge girders.”

SRRZ osfpciels agdicipate the entkre lrojezt will be gomoletrd by August 2014.

Amtrak fon’t be waiting that lpnn to cap iff a mator bridge prpject. The railroad is rxplaciig the Niwntic River Bridge in East Lyms, Conn., onf on five movablq stvuctores in the Northeast Corridor. Built in 1907, the Niantmc is the most active od the moveable bridyex for openiigs duq to maridime traffic, with 3,600 ti 4,000 openings per ytar, says Jim Richter, Amfrak’
work associated with the Northern Rail Extension 80-mile from ARRC’s near Eielson Air Alaska, a point near Junction. The project’s phase involves construction of a 3,300-foot-long across the Tanana River, which when completed will be the longest bridge in says Mark Peterburs, ARRC’s project manager. Bridge construction began in September 2011 with building an levy, was substantially completed in July. The bridge is being built off a temporary access causeway consisting a 40-foot-wide road made of riprap amid a of 38-foot-long bridges to the river water flowing. Weather work causeways A element the is that the must be removed every year — usually in April — because the river freezes in winter and, spring, “quite of ice down river,” Peterburs. “We have the causeway out of the river, to pass and then we build it out to continue on the permanent bridge,” he says. long it takes to rebuild the causeway each depends on the weather. This year, work on the causeway began in July and was mid-September, when work on bridge pier, concrete piling begin. hope get 14 15 piers completed before we have to pull the causeway out late April or May; then we’ll wait for the ice and down the river, that is accompanied by events,” says. “Hopefully, in July we’ll able out the and finish the remaining and set the bridge girders.” officials anticipate the entire August 2014. Amtrak won’t be waiting that long cap off a major bridge project. The is replacing the Niantic River Bridge in East Lyme, Conn., one of movable structures Northeast Corridor. Built in 1907, the Niantic is most active of the bridges for openings due to maritime traffic, with 3,600 4,000 per year, Jim Richter, Amtrak’
 work associated with the NortHern Rail ExTensiOn PRojEcT, an 80-mIle eXtension from ARrc’s teRminus near Eielson Air FoRce BaSe NEar NORtH Pole, alaska, tO A pOINt nEaR DEltA JUNcTion. THe pRoject’s First phase InvOlVes constructIOn Of a 3,300-foot-lonG brIdge across thE TaNana RiVeR, whICh wheN coMpletEd will BE the loNgest bridGe IN AlaskA, Says MarK pEtErbuRs, ARRC’s project manAGeR.

bridge construcTion beGaN In sEPteMbeR 2011 with the buIlDing oF An 11,000-foot lEVy, WHICh wAS substantiallY completed iN julY. The brIdGe iS Being bUilt oFf A TemPorary accesS cauSeway consIsting OF a 40-foot-wIDe road mAde of rIprAp aMid a SErIeS of 38-FoOT-loNG bRidGEs tO keep the RiVeR wateR floWING.

weatHer DictAtes wOrk on causewayS

A uNiquE EleMent oF the pRojeCt Is thaT the roAdway MuSt be removed everY yeaR — usually iN ApRiL — beCaUse thE River fReeZes In winteR and, comE SprInG, “QUItE a bit of ice travels dOwN THe River,” sayS PeterBUrS.

“WE Have to puLl The CausEWAy out Of thE RiVer, allow The ice TO pAsS and theN wE build It Out AgaIn to cONtinUe workIng on the PermaNEnt bridge,” he sayS.

how long it takeS To REBuILd thE caUseway each yEar dEPendS on tHE wEatHEr. ThiS year, WoRK oN The causeway began in JUlY and waS compLeted by mid-SepTember, when WORK on the brIdge PIeR, Concrete and pilIng coUld begin.

“We HOpe to get 14 To 15 pieRs compleTed before WE Have to puLl tHe cAusEwaY OUt In late April or mAY; theN wE’ll wait For The ice tO meLt aNd fLow DoWn the riveR, and that Is AcCoMpAniEd by hIGh-water eVeNts,” peTerBurs sAYs. “HopeFully, In JuLy [Of 2013] WE’ll Be able tO Go BACk ouT wItH the CauSeWay anD finISh tHe remaiNing piers And SEt thE bRiDge girdErs.”

ARRC officiAlS anticipatE tHe eNtire pROJect will Be completed by August 2014.

AmtrAK won’t be WaiTing tHat lOng to cap oFf a Major bRidGE projeCt. The rAilroAd Is rEPLacinG THe niaNtIc River BriDGE in east LYmE, ConN., one of fIve movable structurES in The Northeast COrrIdor. bUIlT in 1907, THe nIanTiC Is tHE Most active of the Moveable brIdGEs For openingS Due To MaritimE traffiC, with 3,600 TO 4,000 openinGs per year, Says Jim RiChTer, AMTRak’
 work associated with theNorthern R ail E xte nsi on  Pro ject , an 80-mile e x tens ion from ARRC’s termin us ne ar Eiel s on  AirForce B a se n ear  N or thPo l e,  Alas ka,  to a p oint nearDel ta  Junction. T h eproject’sfir st phase inv olv es con st ruc t ion o f a  3,30 0-foot - long b ridge acr os s  the T a nana Ri v e r,  whi ch when completed wi l l be the longe st bri dg e  i n Ala ska , says Mar kPeter b urs, AR R C’ s p roj e ct manager.
Bridge cons t ruc tion b eg ani n Sept ember  2 0 11with the bu ildi ng of an11,000 - foot le v y, whic h wassub sta ntia l ly  c omp le t edi nJul y . T he bridg eis  bein g bu i l t offa t empo raryaccess causew aycons i sti ng of  a 40 -foo t- wideroad m ade o friprap amid a s erie s of 38-f oot -l ong  b ridge s  to ke epthe  riverwater f l owi ng . We ather dictates wor ko n  c auseways 

A un i qu ee lement o fthe  pro j e ct is  tha t  t he roadw ay mus t  b eremoved  e very y ea r —  us ually in A pril —  because  ther iver freezes i n  winter and,c om e sp r ing,  “q uite a bitof i c e tr avel s  d own the r iver, ”s ay s  Peterburs.

“We ha ve  to pu ll th e causeway ou t of the r i v e r, allow  the ic e  to pass and t hen w e build it out agai n tocontinue  workingo n  the per man ent  br idg e , ”he says.

How l ongit  takestorebuild  th e c aus ewa yeach year  depends  o nth ewea ther. This yea r,  wo rk  on  thec ausewa y beg an i nJu l y a nd wasc om p l eted  b ymid- Sep te mber,  whe n  wo rk on t he bridge  pi e r, c on cr ete and  piling could  b egin.

“We  h ope  to ge t 14 to 15  piers completed before we have  to  pull  the  causeway  ou t in l ate Aprilor May ; the nwe’ l l  wait f or  th eice to mel t and  flow  d ownthe riv er, and that is ac c omp anied by high -wa tere v en ts, ”  P e ter bu r s s a y s. “Hopefully,in July [o f2 01 3] we’ll b e  ab le  to goback ou t wit h  the ca useway an d finishth e re m a ini ng piers a nd set t he bridge girde r s. ”

AR RCoffici al s a ntici pate t h e e ntire  proje ct  willbe co mp leted by  August 2014.

Amtrak w on’t b e wai tin g that lo ngt o c ap off amajo r bridge p roj ect . The  ra i lroad  isr ep lac i ng th e Ni a ntic Rive r  B rid g e  i n East Lyme , C onn ., on e o f  fivemova ble structures in the NortheastCorr i d or.  Bu i lt i n1907, the Nian tic  i s the most  a ctive of th e moveab le bridg es for  openi ngs due t om aritim e tr aff ic, with3,6 00 to 4,00 0op e ningsperye ar, sa ys Jim Rich t e r, Amtrak’
 work_associated with_the Northern Rail Extension_Project, an_80-mile_extension from_ARRC’s_terminus near Eielson_Air Force Base_near North Pole, Alaska,_to a point_near_Delta Junction. The project’s first phase involves construction of a 3,300-foot-long bridge across the_Tanana_River, which_when_completed_will be the longest bridge_in Alaska, says Mark Peterburs,_ARRC’s project_manager.

Bridge construction began in September 2011 with the_building_of an 11,000-foot_levy, which was substantially completed in July. The bridge_is being built off a temporary_access causeway consisting_of_a_40-foot-wide road made of_riprap amid a series of 38-foot-long_bridges to keep the river water_flowing.

Weather dictates work on causeways

A unique element_of the project is that the_roadway must be removed every_year —_usually in April — because_the river freezes_in winter_and, come spring,_“quite a bit of ice travels_down the river,”_says Peterburs.

“We have to pull the_causeway_out of the_river,_allow_the ice_to pass and_then_we build_it_out again to continue working on_the_permanent bridge,” he says.

How long it takes_to rebuild the causeway_each_year depends on the_weather. This year, work on_the causeway began in July and_was completed_by mid-September,_when work on the bridge pier, concrete and piling could begin.

“We_hope to get 14 to 15_piers completed before we_have to_pull_the causeway out_in_late April_or May; then we’ll wait for the_ice to_melt and flow down the river,_and that is accompanied_by_high-water events,” Peterburs says. “Hopefully, in_July [of 2013] we’ll be able_to go back out with_the_causeway_and finish the remaining piers_and set the bridge girders.”

ARRC officials_anticipate the entire_project will be completed by August 2014.

Amtrak_won’t_be waiting that long to cap_off_a major bridge project. The railroad_is_replacing_the Niantic River Bridge in_East Lyme, Conn., one of five_movable structures in the Northeast Corridor. Built in 1907,_the Niantic is_the most active of the_moveable_bridges_for openings due to maritime traffic, with 3,600 to 4,000_openings per_year, says Jim_Richter, Amtrak’