Iowa Short Line Wins Grant to Rebuild Bridge John D. Boyd | Dec 4, 2009 6:48PM GMT The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story Cedar Rapids structure out of service since flood in mid-2008 An Iowa short line railroad will receive a federal grant of nearly $7 million to rebuild a bridge torn away in June 2008 by the flooding Cedar River. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said his department is awarding a grant of $6.965 million to the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway, for its bridge at Cedar Rapids. The railroad, known as CRANDIC, suffered about $11 million in total damages from the flood that was one of the worst in Iowa history. Costs to fix the single Cedar Rapids bridge are put at $9 million. That structure governs access to some important nearby industrial shippers and is normally used as a transit link for other rail lines as well. “The people of Cedar Rapids depend on railroads to deliver the goods and supplies that are so critical to the local economy,” LaHood said. Besides the federal grant, the bridge work requires a $1.741 million match by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Other federal and state aid recently helped the Iowa Northern Railroad rebuild a bridge at Waterloo, Iowa, which the same floods knocked out, splitting that railroad in two for more than a year. Contact John D. Boyd at jboyd@joc.com.
