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Restoring Katrina-Ravaged Bridges

2006; Volume: 102; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

0033-9016

T Judge,

Infrastructure Resilience and Vulnerability Analysis

This article describes the pre-storm planning and post-storm assessment, demolition and reconstruction that enabled CSX Transportation to repair its heavily damaged line through the Gulf Coast five months after Hurricane Katrina. More than 39 miles of track, signal facilities and six major bridges and six smaller timber trestles were damaged or destroyed. Although the passing of a second hurricane required contractors to stand down and move equipment to higher ground, it only cost four working days. The article gives a step-by-step description of the pre-storm planning, the post storm assessments and the process by which the tasks were divided up in terms of seriousness of damage and other priorities. Additional help was brought in from private contractors, who aided in carrying out inspections and design alternatives. Details are provided about repairs to the main bridges and damaged structures, as well as names of local companies used in the process