On Friday June 29th, I ventured over to the Pacific Jct, IA - Plattsmouth, NE area to check on the progress of the BNSF's new Missouri River bridge. Due to some issues this will be my last report on this construction project.
Starting in Pacific Jct we headed west on old Hwy 34 toward Plattsmouth. The first stop was the crossing on 190th st to take a look at what the BNSF has been doing. Looking east from the crossing crews are working on the ROW preparing it for the second main.
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| Looking east toward Pacific Jct from 190th st. |
This area had been built up last year to protect the line from the Missouri River flooding. The ROW is now about 6 feet taller than before the flooding, but the extra levees that were built on both sides of the elevated main have been removed. Looking west from the crossing the extra dirt appears to have been leveled and used for the second main ROW.
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| View west from 190th st toward NE. |
From 190th st I turned left on Kane Ave which parallels the main on the north side for about a minle. At the creek crossing I noticed a new double track bridge had been installed since last year. A review of Google earth shows the bridge was under construction on the 03/07/12 imagery.
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| New double track concrete bridge. |
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| Looking east toward the new bridge from 180th st. There is an usual kink in the track closer to the bridge. |
Kane Ave is closed at 18th st and to get back to the tracks I turned south. At the 180th st crossing crushed rock and dirt trucks are entering the ROW and making dumping runs toward the new bridge. There was a construction contractor staging the trucks and taking their paperwork at the crossing. He was more concerned about the trucks that me which as we will see is not always the case.
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| Rock truck heading to the current rock dumping spot. |
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| The elevation of the new fill is nicely shown in this shot from Hwy 34 |
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| A rock truck that has come off the fill to head west across the river. |
Back on Hwy 34 I headed over to the east end of the Plattsmouth toll bridge and parked on the south shoulder of the road. Taking a look at the amount of progress that is occurring there must be a bonus if the construction companies complete this project ahead of time.
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| Iowa side work area |
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| Iowa side bridge footing and pier area. |
The earth work on the NE side is still ongoing and I was not able to see to what level the work was at other than dust and truck activity. What was a nice suprise was the completion of the west side bridge footing and first pier. The first spans were also noted having been installed on the west side. The east side of the river showed that the piers where being built or closed to being finished but there was no indication that the peir that will be in the river was being constructed yet.
The other contractor.
As soon as I stepped out of my vehicle this individual jumps out of his truck and wants to know what he can do to help me. I replied nothing and that I was taking pictures. His immediate reply was that the BNSF does not want or allow anyone to take photos of this construction project. I was determined to get my photos and to stand my ground as I am on a public highway, so I asked him since when did the BNSF but Hwy34. His short reply was that its illegal to take photos and that I was trespassing and to leave the area immediately. Hmmm...nope not going to happen. I continued to take my photos while the contractor was taking video and photos of me.
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| BNSF Contractor |
The contractor followed me across the bridge and when I parked in the parking area across from the toll booth to get some more photos, he was observed having an animated conversation with the toll booth collector. As I return to my vehicle the toll booth operate runs out of the tool booth shouting and swearing for all he was worth that i was to get off the public road and get out of there.
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| Contractor at the tool booth |
The short version of the ensuing conversation and threats from the tool booth operator was the BNSF did not want me there and that I was trespassing; on a public highway. Well the individual finally disengaged from me and I proceeded into Plattsmouth. As I was driving into the town, the contractor was observer following me until I turned into the area were the county law enforcement center is. Needless to say the day ended with me filing out a police report for harassment and sharing my photos with the county sheriff and my girlfriend being less than impressed with the whole situation.
As I indicated above this is my last report on this construction project.
