Crews with Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and Norfolk Southern are working to replace a bridge in Newport, Tenn., that was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, a key step in restoring rail service between Newport and North Carolina.

The replacement bridge is expected to be installed during the week of March 10.

The bridge, along with the rest of the AS rail line, which runs from Newport through Asheville, N.C., and Old Fort, N.C., has been closed since the hurricane struck last fall.

Initial damage assessments found extensive destruction caused by the storm, including washed-out tracks, damaged bridges and other infrastructure failures. Crews have been working steadily to repair the line, and the bridge replacement is one of the final steps in this lengthy recovery process.

The new bridge installation marks a milestone in the railroad’s efforts to restore service to western North Carolina by the end of the month.

Norfolk Southern spokespersons emphasized that the replacement bridge is vital for reopening the rail line.

The railroad has targeted March 31 as the completion date for restoring service between Newport and Grovestone, a region of Black Mountain, N.C., east of Asheville.

Once the bridge is in place, Norfolk Southern will be closer to fully reopening the AS Line and resuming rail service across the region.

Source: Wate.com, WVLT.com