White Pass Railroad Bridge Program

KPFF is providing program management support, bridge engineering, and routine/fracture critical inspection services for 20 bridges carrying railroad traffic in Alaska (US), British Columbia (CA) and the Yukon Territory (CA). The bridges consist of steel, timber, and concrete elements. Our team has completed preliminary assessment and prepared design, cost, and recommendation reports, in addition to design, construction support, and construction inspection for bridge replacements, girder strengthening, and repairs. Our project managers, Anne and Paul, work with the Railroad Superintendent to identify and prioritize structure maintenance, repairs, and replacements, develop annual program budgets, in addition to acting as a liaison between the railroad and bridge consultant teams.

• The White Pass Railroad was built starting in 1898 to help access the Klondike Gold Rush.
• The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway is “The Scenic Railway of the World”. Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty.
• Today, the WP&YR is Alaska’s most popular shore excursion carrying approximately 400,000 passengers in 2014 during the May to September tourism season operating on the first 67.5 miles (Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Y.T.) of the original 110 mile line.
• KPFF helps manage 20 different crossing structures, built of steel, timber and concrete culverts.

Additional Services Provided:

• Historic Bridges
• Bridge Evaluation
• Bridge Inspection
• Project Management
• New Railroad Bridge Design
• Emergency Response
• Retaining Wall Design
• Budgeting for Future Projects