Train bridge construction across LPO finally complete

Construction on BNSF’s double track train project over Lake Pend Oreille has been completed thanks to crews working all day Aug. 6 to lay the final track segments on the two-mile stretch.

The new 4,873-foot bridge was completed in November 2022 — three years after construction began. This milestone was followed by the closure and reconstruction of the old Northern Pacific train bridge that runs across the lake, which was first constructed in 1904.

Adding the second main track also required the construction of two smaller bridges in Sandpoint, one over Sand Creek and the other over Bridge Street. At the old Northern Pacific Sandpoint depot, served by Amtrak’s Empire Builder, addition of the second track required removal of most of the existing platform and relocation of a small structure which stores a wheelchair lift.

“The completion of this bridge is a big win for our customers and the community, especially before the start of the fall harvest season,” John Cech, vice president of engineering for BNSF, said in a press release. “This milestone is thanks to many team members spanning across multiple departments who collaborated to help improve the consistency of our service. This bridge will be critical moving forward to address our long-term growth and will allow us to meet customer expectations for the next century or more.”

The upgrades will help reduce congestion and move the current freight traffic and future volumes more efficiently. Additionally, the double track will cause less vehicle traffic delays as trains will not be forced to block crossings while they wait for the track to open.

The project is also expected to greatly reduce locomotive emissions in the Sandpoint area as trains will not be idling as much or “powering up” to resume travel across the bridge.