The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis oversees key projects to improve rail traffic across the Mississippi River.
Photo courtesy of Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
The editors of ENR have selected the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis as ENR Midwest Owner of the Year.
Homeowners of the Year are chosen for their innovation and creativity across the region, as well as their contributions to their community. Past Midwest Landlords of the Year have included Invenergy, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the University of Notre Dame.
Founded in 1889, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis plays a vital role in rail operations and the growth of the St. Louis metropolitan area. Louis. Most recently, he oversaw the $222 million replacement of the Merchants Bridge over the Mississippi River, which is the second-oldest river span serving the St. Louis, connecting Illinois and Missouri.
The project was completed in 2022 and earned ENR Midwest’s Best Project in Highway/Bridge category in 2023. Replacement of the previous 1890s bridge resulted in a 49% increase in rail tonnage and is expected to increase economic activity by $456 million. over the next 20 years.
The project included the replacement of three 520-foot-long double-track truss spans and the seismic retrofitting and anchoring of the existing masonry river piers. The east and west approach structures were improved by adding ballast cover to 940 feet of existing approach lights and encapsulating an existing 750-foot steel trestle in lightweight concrete fill with mechanically stabilized earth walls.
Another terminal association project is the $57.6 million rehabilitation of the MacArthur Bridge, which also crosses the Mississippi just south of the Merchants Bridge. The bridge works, which opened in 1917, included the replacement of a single-span truss with a three-span girder bridge, the demolition of abandoned road bridges and the reconstruction of a containment
We will have more information about the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis in the March issue of ENR Midwest. Stay tuned!
