Anyone know exactly plans for new Animas River Bridge at Silverton

I noticed some survey flags around the Animas River Bridge just south of Silverton the other day. From a brief discussion with MoW folks they stated the plan was to build the new bridge upstream from the existing bridge. Lots of long timbers in place in the Silverton laydown yard just south of the depot. Apparently these will be used to build a construction road over the soft ground that is really a swamp around the north end of the existing bridge.

Question...Just how far upstream will the new bridge be? Regardless, depending on how far the mainline will shift to the east, some or a lot blasting will be needed.

First shot looking north, about 200 feet south of the bridge. Note the offset survey stake on the right. If this curvature is to be reduced a bit then lots of rock will need to be blasted. It has some numbers on the stake, A similar offset stake, but to the west side (left) was noted about a 100 feet to the north of this one, again with some numbers.

Second shot looking north, just past the big rock in the first photo If the new bridge is to built upstream (to the right) then some blasting will be needed.

Third shot...closeup of Geotech survey flag about 10 feet off the track, to the east.

Forth shot...looking north again shows the above flag and relationship to mainline, again on the upstream side of the bridge

Last shot standing near the above flag and looking across the existing bridge a similar Geotech survey flag can be seen on the other side, again about 10 feet from the mainline.


Note the Geotech survey flags are not protected by stakes or pins, just a flag placed in the ground. Could be near where some dirt has be dug for a bridge abutment, but not the centerline of track that a proper survey stake would have. No notes or station numbers on these.

Does anyone have a plan showing the realignment and approximate amount of the blasting that will be needed?