Ivy Dell railroad bridge is repaired, back open

Long, loaded trains are once again traveling through Lafollette

After the last scheduled train cleared the Ivy Dell bridge, the CSX crew began to make the repairs. It started by getting the damaged section on the ground. At this point, the track was transferred to the new bridge section.

By Charlie Hutson

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – The last train to come through Lafollette was north bound about 1:30 Tuesday afternoon, and as that train was going out of site, work begin to replace the damaged section of the Ivy Dell bridge, according to a CSX official.

The new track was carefully lowered and adjusted into position and secured on the new bridge span.

The new span was then hoisted into position between the two peers.

The track was estimated to be closed until 10 pm Tuesday, and if all goes well, trains should be running after that, and they are. A well more than 100 car train safely traveled the two mile stretch of trestle and track that suffered damage on Sat., May 25.

This is a look at the new span only inches from being in place.

Just a few minutes after 5pm on Tuesday, the new span was in place.

In this photo, CSX workers are completing the final stages of the project to meet the 10pm Tuesday deadline to open the track.

The old bridge span was loaded on a flat bed truck and leaving Ivy Dell just after 8 pm.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 06/05/2024-6AM)