BNSF Railway Co. will invest upwards of $200 million to build a movable railroad bridge to be constructed across Salmon Bay 0.3 miles west of the Ballard Locks in Seattle.
The new bridge would replace the current 104-year-old rail bridge spanning the Salmon Bay. The proposed bridge design would be approximately 450 feet long and have a 155-foot vertical clearance.
Coast Guard officials are seeking comment from mariners and maritime stakeholders while reviewing an application from BNSF.
BNSF announced its capital investment plan will total $3.3 billion this year, with the largest component going toward replacing and maintaining the railroad’s core network and related assets. Over the past five years, the Class I railroad has invested almost $1.8 billion just in Texas.
In February 2018 BNSF presented a plan to spend $375 million in Texas track maintenance and expansion this year. Projects include expansion projects, resurfacing 1,400 miles of track, and replacing 40 miles of rail and 450,000 ties, which will account for half of the capital spending.