Project Description

SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD RIO PEÑASCO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Location:
Artesia, New Mexico

Owner:
Southwestern Railroad

Contact:
James McCormick
575.885.7104

Contractor:
J.C. Service

Construction Cost:
$1,000,000*
*Excluding clean up & construction of permanent structure

Completion Date:
2011

In Spring 2011, a train derailment in Artesia was a source of great frustration for Southwestern Railroad officials. However, Pettigrew was there to respond quickly, providing surveying, engineering, materials engineering testing, inspection, and quality control for the important bridge replacement project.

The drainage study consisted of mapping the watershed, determining rainfall amounts, and calculating peak flow rates of the Rio Peñasco at the bridge location. Hec-Ras and Hydroflow modeling software we used in this process. Once the peak flows were calculated, the size and number of temporary culverts was determined. Pettigrew provided the design of the temporary culverts.

Pettigrew provided construction management services for the placement of the temporary culverts and railroad reconstruction. Pettigrew was on site daily to help coordinate construction, surveying, and materials testing, and to verify design standards and prepare daily progress reports.

Pettigrew coordinated with the three general contractors to install five 72″ diameter culvert pipes in the Rio Peñasco to provide a quick solution to get trains rolling again.

The permanent structure will consist of a pier and beam bridge with a minimum design flow for a 50-year storm. The new bridge will be approximately 250 feet long and 30 feet wide. This permanent structure will be able to handle storms with large return periods and reduce the risk of personal and material damage.