Union Pacific : Employee Efforts Reopen Dry Canyon Bridge Ahead of Schedule

Union Pacific's Dry Canyon Bridge north of Redding, California, is open for business nearly a month ahead of schedule thanks to employees' tireless efforts.

The vital I-5 route connecting Roseville, California, and Portland, Oregon, has been closed since the Lava Fire ignited the bridge in late June. Although initially estimated to reopen Sept. 1, Operating and Engineering's around-the-clock efforts to repair the damage at Union Pacific's own expense enabled the first train to cross the reconstructed bridge Aug. 1.

Five trains crossed the bridge during its soft opening on Sunday before Engineering completed surfacing work and additional inspections overnight. The bridge was officially put back into service at 7 a.m. Aug. 2 but maintains a five-hour daily curfew over the next eight days.