BNSF Railway is nearing completion of a new rail bridge over the Big Sioux River between Sioux City, Iowa, and North Sioux City, South Dakota. The 300-foot steel and concrete structure is expected to enter service by late summer 2025.
Ames Construction is serving as the project contractor. The company also handled demolition of the previous bridge, which collapsed on June 23, 2024, during record flooding in the region. The failure of the 120-year-old steel truss bridge drew national attention and disrupted freight operations for nearly a year.
Crews used controlled explosions in August and September 2024 to remove the damaged structure, which had become too unstable to dismantle safely. Prior to its collapse, the bridge carried 10 to 15 trains per day and served both BNSF and the D&I Railroad, a shortline operator transporting aggregates between South Dakota and Iowa.
The new bridge aims to restore freight capacity across the river and reduce ongoing disruptions. BNSF has not disclosed the project cost.