en.Wedoany.com Reported - CSX, an East Coast regional railroad company, announced today that it has reopened its Blue Ridge Subdivision, which was damaged by Hurricane Helene.
One year after Hurricane Helene ravaged the southeastern United States, the storm's strong winds and heavy rains caused widespread power outages across multiple states, prompting Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to declare states of emergency.
CSX, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, stated that it has worked with partners to restore this critical corridor, approximately 60 miles long, within the Blue Ridge Subdivision. The corridor, which transports over 14 million tons of cargo annually, connects communities and businesses in the Appalachian region to the broader U.S. freight network and was previously damaged by Hurricane Helene. CSX noted that the Blue Ridge Subdivision is one of four north-south routes in its network, serving both local customers and acting as a key thoroughfare for the entire system. This restoration enhances the resilience of the CSX network, providing additional capacity and flexibility to ensure efficient national freight operations.
"Restoring this vital freight corridor is a testament to the power of resilience, recovery, and collaboration," said Steve Angel, President and CEO of CSX, in a statement. "This is a significant moment for CSX, the communities in Tennessee and North Carolina, and everyone who has worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure freight rail can once again safely and reliably traverse the Nolichucky Gorge. We are ensuring that the CSX network is stronger than ever and better positioned to serve our customers, communities, and the national economy."
Upgrades to the subdivision include rebuilding the 530-foot-long Poplar Bridge with a modern ballast deck design to improve clearance and mitigate potential future weather impacts. Four of the original six 95-foot bridge spans were salvaged and reused, reflecting CSX's commitment to sustainability. CSX also rebuilt the Devil's Creek bridge, which crosses the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee, reinforced key structures such as retaining walls, and upgraded drainage systems at multiple locations throughout and beyond the Nolichucky Gorge.
Overall, the restoration work included: over 570,000 man-hours dedicated to restoring the line (including CSX employees, contractors, and suppliers); 1 million cubic yards of rock and materials used to rebuild embankments and track beds; installation of 575 rail piles and 1,150 precast concrete panels to construct nearly a mile of retaining wall south of Poplar Bridge; pouring 21,000 cubic yards of concrete to reinforce structures; and laying 35,500 linear feet of new track in the Nolichucky River Gorge.
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