Port release – The Coos Bay Rail Line (CBRL) has concluded repair and rehabilitation work on 37 timber bridge structures along the CBRL. The rail line is owned and operated by the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay (Port). The Port contracted with Scott Partney Construction to complete work on the bridges. The last phase of the project will be final inspection by the Port’s contracted bridge engineering firm, Stantec Inc. Coos Bay Rail Line is a short line class III railroad owned and operated by the Port of Coos Bay. The 134-mile long line provides connections to the North American railway network for manufacturing operations in Coos, Douglas, and Lane Counties, and for marine terminals in the Coos Bay harbor. In total, there are 121 bridges throughout the entire line with timber bridges making up most bridge structures. Like all transportation infrastructure, CBRL requires constant maintenance and upgrades in order to ensure the rail is in good working order. Project work included replacement of identified timber bridge bent caps; timber bridge stringers; timber bridge deck ties; structural repairs or reframe of identified timber bridge bents; furnishing and installing ballast at timber bridge approaches; and surfacing and tamping of track at timber bridge approaches. Total project cost was $2.3 million, with funding provided by an Oregon Lottery Backed Bond grant awarded to the Port in 2013. Ensuring the integrity of bridge infrastructure along the rail line is important to maintain the economic vitality of the region. CBRL currently supports 10 shippers who utilize the rail line to move cargo daily. “This project is important to not only the rail line, but to the economic health of the Southwest Oregon region,” says Project Manager, Rick Adamek. “It takes a team to pull off large rehabilitation projects such as this. We thank Scott Partney Construction and Stantec for helping to ensure the continued success of CBRL.”
