Railroad Rehabilitation

Erdman Anthony performed various services for the rehabilitation of the 46.25-mile Newton Falls branch of the Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern Railroad in New York state.  The ongoing project aims to improve rail service for potential shippers in the Adirondacks, an area of the state that faces serious economic challenges.

Our firm’s responsibilities included project scoping, surveying, construction-cost estimating, permitting, wetland delineation, track and crossing design, construction support, and bridge-repair design.

Our firm also handled the in-depth inspection and load ratings of 38 undergrade railroad bridges that had a total of 47 spans. Level 1 load ratings were prepared for 34 of the bridges, and Level 2 load ratings were prepared for the rest.

The bridge structure types included:

• Open deck steel plate girders
• Open deck steel thru girders
• Concrete slabs, stone masonry arches
• Concrete arches
• Multi-stringers
• Ballasted steel rail tops

The analysis of each structure was completed in accordance with American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association guidelines for existing steel or concrete bridges, as appropriate.

Ultimately, two of the short-span bridges required replacement, and 17 of the bridges were rehabilitated. The rehabilitation treatments included:

• Deck replacement
• Concrete repairs
• Pressure grouting and repointing of deteriorated masonry
• Waterproofing of leaking ballasted decks
• Steel repairs

Upon completion of the project, the bridge and track repairs will allow the speed on the Mohawk, Adirondack & Northern Railroad to increase from 5 miles per hour to 30.