Thomas Brook Rail Bridge Replacement

ProjectsBest Projects2025 Best of the Best Winners Thomas Brook Rail Bridge Replacement By Justin Rice Photo by Sebastian Bennage, courtesy of Sargent Corp. A total of 67 precast concrete elements—fabricated offsite—were delivered and installed with sub-inch accuracy. March 13, 2026 Thomas Brook Rail Bridge Replacement Oakfield, Maine Small Project Submitted by: Sargent Corp. Region: ENR East Owner: Maine Dept. of Transportation Lead Design Firm/Civil Engineer: VHB General Contractor: Sargent Corp. Structural Engineer: Contech Engineered Solutions Removing and replacing a structurally deficient freight bridge involved a tightly sequenced shutdown on the busiest part of Maine’s Northern Railway. After removing tracks, the team had 14 days to complete work with only a single, 96-hour full outage of the crossing at a vital link in freight movement between Canada and the U.S. “This proved to be a complex and demanding undertaking,” said Gregory Goodrich, senior project manager at VHB. “Installing a 30‑ft‑span, three‑sided precast concrete arch on pedestals and spread footings within a 25‑ft‑deep excavation, over the course of only a few days, was a logistical and technical balancing act.” Photo by Sebastian Bennage, courtesy of Sargent Corp. Rather than doing most work during the shutdown, the team increased early phase activity to rehearse installation methods and confirm tolerances before the rail closure. While shifting more work into the critical window, the method allowed...