Alaska Railroad receives FRA grant to rehab landmark bridge

The Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) has been awarded a $28.8 million federal grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to support the rehabilitation of the landmark Hurricane Gulch Bridge.

Together with $7.2 million in matching funds committed by the ARRC, the federal funding will support the $36 million bridge rehabilitation project at milepost 284.2, helping preserve reliable passenger-rail service between Southcentral and Interior Alaska.

The project will strengthen the historic bridge, increasing the weight restriction to support 286,000-lbs rail cars and increasing train speed from the current 10 mph restriction to 25 mph, ARRC officials said in a press release.

Hurricane Gulch Bridge is the longest and tallest bridge on the Alaska Railroad and one of its most recognizable landmarks. Work will be phased so passenger and freight service can continue without interruption during rehabilitation work.

“The Hurricane Gulch Bridge is an iconic and beautiful structure along one of the most scenic rail lines in the United States, and critical infrastructure for Alaska,” said FRA Administrator David Fink. “Our investment in rehabilitating the bridge will provide the foundational strength and stability necessary to help ensure this magnificent structure will be around for another 100 years.”

The FRA award comes from the National Railroad Partnership Program. In the most recent award cycle, the program dedicated $5.3 billion for capital projects to improve and expand passenger rail service nationwide.