ATLANTA – In a major step toward reopening the west end of its hurricane-damaged AS Line in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Norfolk Southern has completed the installation of new bridge spans for its bridge replacement project over the Pigeon River in Newport, Tenn.
The AS Line has been out of service since Hurricane Helene brought historic flooding to western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee in September.
“The speedy replacement of the Newport bridge, despite challenging conditions in the wake of the storm, exemplifies the Norfolk Southern team’s commitment to reliability, resilience, and investment in the communities we serve,” Ruth Brown, NS chief engineer bridges and structures, said in a statement. “This project is more than just infrastructure repair — it’s a crucial step in maintaining the flow of commerce, keeping local economies strong, and reinforcing the trust our customers and partners place in us every day.”
NS was able to reopen its core routes affected by the storm within 72 hours of landfall, with crews clearing more than 15,000 trees, deploying more than 400 generators, and repairing multiple track washouts. But the AS Line, which runs from Salisbury, N.C to Morristown, Tenn., crossing the Eastern Continental Divide through the Blue Ridge Mountains and Asheville, N.C., was severely damaged, and the section of the line that runs from Newport to Old Fort, N.C., including the Newport bridge, has been out of service since September.
The final span on the new replacement bridge was installed on March 14. The new rail bridge, built to modern specifications, is expected to last for at least 100 years.
NS aims to open the western portion of the route to Asheville by the end of this month.
