anir dendroica
OBS Chief
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2009
- Messages
- 507
I've widely heard an estimate of of $100 million required to raise the track between Devils Lake and Churchs Ferry. Today I found a feasibility study published this April that has a better estimate and cost breakdown.
http://www.dot.nd.gov/manuals/planning/FeasibilityStudyBNSFMainlineTrackRaise.pdf
Of interest: the current low top-of-rail elevation is about 1455.65 feet. The current lake level is 1454.36 feet. That leaves a little over a foot of clearance, and when the wind rises waves throw debris on the tracks and wash away ballast.
The project proposes raising the track to an roadbed elevation of 1466 feet (top-of-rail 1469.1 feet) in most areas, and 1467 feet in the most-critical areas. That allows four feet of freeboard at a lake elevation of 1462 feet, which is the maximum that can be reasonably expected given the natural outlet at 1458 feet.
Here is the cost breakdown (see p. 43 of the report for details):
Roadbed raise over about 15 miles (fill material, ballast, riprap): $36 million
Track and signals: $17 million
Bridge construction: $2 million (not a major expense relative to the rest of the project)
Remove existing track: $1 million
"Mobilization": $3 million
Other (environmental, power lines, pipelines): $1 million
Salvage value of removed track: $2 million
TOTAL CONSTRUCTION: $58 million
Administration: $6 million
20% "contingency": $11.5 million
TOTAL COST: $75.5 million
The report also includes an estimate of $22 million ($29m -$7m salvage value) for replacement of 55.5 miles of jointed rail that is not threatened by rising water. Supposedly this is required for Amtrak to use the line; this brings the project total to just under $100 million. (I assume this part could wait a few years if the full $100 million is not forthcoming.)
p. 66 is an interesting diagram showing current top-of-rail elevations along the affected stretch relative to current and maximum projected lake levels. It looks like the rails could be raised to 1462 feet for significantly less money, although that would leave the possibility of additional raises required if the lake keeps rising.
http://www.dot.nd.gov/manuals/planning/FeasibilityStudyBNSFMainlineTrackRaise.pdf
Of interest: the current low top-of-rail elevation is about 1455.65 feet. The current lake level is 1454.36 feet. That leaves a little over a foot of clearance, and when the wind rises waves throw debris on the tracks and wash away ballast.
The project proposes raising the track to an roadbed elevation of 1466 feet (top-of-rail 1469.1 feet) in most areas, and 1467 feet in the most-critical areas. That allows four feet of freeboard at a lake elevation of 1462 feet, which is the maximum that can be reasonably expected given the natural outlet at 1458 feet.
Here is the cost breakdown (see p. 43 of the report for details):
Roadbed raise over about 15 miles (fill material, ballast, riprap): $36 million
Track and signals: $17 million
Bridge construction: $2 million (not a major expense relative to the rest of the project)
Remove existing track: $1 million
"Mobilization": $3 million
Other (environmental, power lines, pipelines): $1 million
Salvage value of removed track: $2 million
TOTAL CONSTRUCTION: $58 million
Administration: $6 million
20% "contingency": $11.5 million
TOTAL COST: $75.5 million
The report also includes an estimate of $22 million ($29m -$7m salvage value) for replacement of 55.5 miles of jointed rail that is not threatened by rising water. Supposedly this is required for Amtrak to use the line; this brings the project total to just under $100 million. (I assume this part could wait a few years if the full $100 million is not forthcoming.)
p. 66 is an interesting diagram showing current top-of-rail elevations along the affected stretch relative to current and maximum projected lake levels. It looks like the rails could be raised to 1462 feet for significantly less money, although that would leave the possibility of additional raises required if the lake keeps rising.
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