The Great Salt Lake Causeway—Its Recent History and Current Maintenance Program
Abstract
Since the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, the Union Pacific Railroad has provided a vital link across the United States. With the decision to reroute the railroad in 1900, the Great Salt Lake became a critical link in the cross country route, one which poses difficult challenges to the maintenance staff and engineers who attempt to keep the trains running across this stretch of track. The history of the railroad in the Great Salt Lake area, the physical setting of the area, the design and construction of the crossing in 1900, the replacement of the center 12.5 miles in 1956, the overtopping in 1986, and the foundation failure and repair at MP748 will be discussed. We conclude with the on-going UPRR monitoring, maintenance, and repair program, including the settlement monitoring program, cleaning of the culverts, armor rock placement, and emergency repair preparedness.
2008
AREMA Conference Proceedings
Carol A. Ravano
Jacobs Associates
Paul Dannelly
Union Pacific Railroad
Frank W. Pita
Jacobs Associates
