Stimulus Bill To Help Rebuild Flood Damaged Railroad Bridge

By Justin Foss, Reporter

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By Justin Foss

Story Created: Feb 19, 2009 at 6:29 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 19, 2009 at 6:29 PM CST

WATERLOO - An Eastern Iowa company says without the federal economic stimulus bill, its business would have died.

Thursday in Waterloo, Congressman Bruce Braley showcased how the 787-billion dollar package will help Iowa move forward.

Braley spoke to a small crowd next to the flood-damaged Union Pacific railroad bridge across the Cedar River in downtown Waterloo.

Still to this day part of the bridge is sitting in the water, dividing up the Iowa Northern Railway, the only user of the bridge.

"Its almost created a nightmare on how we've been able to function," said Dan Sabin, President of Iowa Northern Railway.

Pre-flood, Sabin and his family-owned business used the bridge everyday to easily and quickly transport material through the corridor.

With that bridge out, the trip from Waterloo to Cedar Rapids went from 50 miles, to 300 miles, via Manly in Worth County.

Sabin said the detour costs $2.5 million a month.

Sabin said those costs eliminated any profit for last year.

"The long term sustainability for an operation like this just isn't in the cards for a small business," said Sabin.

With no profit, Iowa Northern also didn't have money to repair the bridge.

Thursday, Braley announced the new economic stimulus bill includes grants to pay for bridge repair, among other projects to create jobs.

"When you just talk about this bill in the abstract, it's hard to get your hand around it, it's so huge," said Braley.

One by one, Braley said each project paid for by the government will help kick start everyone.

Iowa Northern Railway said it's waiting for the Army Corps of Engineers to finish a study before it starts rebuilding the bridge, which could happen in the next few months.

Email Justin Foss at Justin.Foss@kcrg.com

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