Crews taking down the old BNSF Railway bridge over the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan were scheduled to start working around the clock the week of Oct. 19, and the closed stretch of River Road Trail next to the site will stay closed this winter, according to a BNSF project update dated Oct. 15 and posted by the City of Mandan.
The Details
- What: Demolition of the former railroad bridge. BNSF says trains moved to the new bridge Sept. 16.
- Hours: BNSF said crews would begin double shifts the week of Oct. 19, working 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday, up to Thanksgiving. After that, the update says, shifts will depend on how far the work has progressed.
- Current work: As of Oct. 15, crews were finishing removal of the center truss and were to then start taking apart the eastern truss. BNSF says the priority is getting that truss and the temporary support structure (falsework) out of the water before ice flow.
- Trail: The update says the plan calls for removing the east dock wall and remaining bridge pieces on the Bismarck side through fall and winter, which "will require continued closure of the pedestrian trail this winter."
Why It Matters Here
BNSF closed a section of River Road Trail on the Bismarck side beginning March 1, 2025; its 2025 updates, also posted by the City of Mandan, described the closed section as about 200 feet on either side of the bridge on BNSF property. If you walk or bike that riverfront route, plan around the closure this winter.
BNSF says it does not expect the round-the-clock work to be disruptive to the community. It also says this demolition order should let the trail reopen sooner and stay open once it does.
What Comes Next
BNSF has not set a reopening date for the trail. The company says it "remains committed to repairing and reopening the trail" and will release an estimated date "as soon as possible" based on progress this fall and early winter. An August 2026 update on BNSF's project site said taking down the old bridge will continue into 2027, with river piers removed after ice clears.
Before You Go
- Follow the trail closure signs north and south of the bridge. BNSF said in 2025 that the heavy construction does not accommodate pedestrians in the closed section.
- Boaters: BNSF said in September a navigation channel will stay open during the work.
Sources:
- City of Mandan: BNSF Railway Missouri River Bridge Project Update: Oct. 15, 2026 update and earlier trail-closure notes
- BNSF Bismarck Rail Bridge Project: Project Updates: demolition progress and earlier updates
