Union Pacific Railroad’s application to rebuild an existing grade-separated crossing at Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe, Ariz., has garnered Arizona Corporation Commission approval.
Union Pacific’s emergency application submission stemmed from a July 29 train derailment resulting in a portion of the railroad bridge over Rio Salado Parkway collapsing.
Union Pacific will be responsible for the total cost of the bridge construction, in addition to rebuilding the roadway, per its emergency application.
The scope of work involves reconstructing the bridge supporting the railroad tracks over the road. Once the overpass is complete, the roadway will also be reconstructed and placed back in service.
Additionally, officials said the railroad has been working with the Arizona Public Service Company (APS), which has high-voltage facilities in the area of the damaged bridge to find a mutually acceptable path forward, ensuring the continuance of electric service to Arizona customers.
To that end, officials indicated Union Pacific amended its initial application detailing it would be placing an H-piling in the Rio Salado Parkway median near APS’s facilities. The revision calls for Union Pacific to install a prefabricated 133-foot bridge span crossing Rio Salado Parkway and eliminating the need for the H-piling in the median.
The Arizona Corporation Commission maintains the grade separation reconstruction is in the public’s interest, reasonable and consistent with other similar crossings in the state, and provides for the public’s safety.