The railroad runs for 18 miles from the port in Salem City to Swedesboro.
PILESGROVE TWP. -- The replacement of a key railroad bridge on the border of Salem and Gloucester counties is nearly finished, officials say.
The bridge, known as the Oldmans Trestle, carries the Salem County Short Line railroad over Oldmans Creek.
"... we recognize the importance of our road and railroad infrastructure to our businesses," Salem County Freeholder Director Julie Acton said. The improved rail line should play a role in "making our county desirable to industry which could benefit from this mode of transportation," she said.
The 18-mile railroad runs from the Port of Salem in Salem City to Swedesboro where it connects with a Conrail spur.
Eighty percent of the $3 million cost of the trestle work is being provided through a federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, also known as a TIGER grant, according to Salem County Freeholder Ben Laury, chairman of county's Public Works Committee.
At the same time the trestle project is being completed, two other sections of short line railroad are being upgraded, officials say. Approximately one mile of track rehabilitation is taking place in Woolwich Township and approximately one half mile of track in Mannington Township is being repaired. Both railroad rehabilitation projects are also funded through federal TIGER grants, according to county officials.
Last week, county officials gathered at the railroad trestle site with construction workers and engineers to see the progress of the job and hold a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The county purchased the rail line from Conrail in 1984. At the time the tracks were in a state of disrepair and unreliable. Since its purchase, a combination of federal, state and county funds have been used to upgrade the system.
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Through the years there have been derailments and trains have been forced to travel at slow speeds because of the poor conditions of the tracks.
The rehabilitation work in the railroad has been an attempt to lure more businesses to use the system. Since the railroad tracks extend to the port in Salem, it has been hoped that the presence of a reliable rail line could spur business development there.
Besides just carrying freight, in the past ideas were even floated to perhaps run excursions between Salem and Swedesboro with stops in Woodstown as a way to boost county tourism.
The work to replace the Oldmans Trestle began in mid June and is expected to be completed next month, officials said.
South State, Inc. is the general contractor for the project.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.