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Jun 23, 2026:
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Replacement of Grand Canyon Railway Wooden Ballast Bridge Over Bright Angel Wash
Grand Canyon National Park » Replacement of Grand Canyon Railway Wooden Ballast Bridge Over Bright Angel Wash
The National Park Service (NPS) is evaluating a proposal by Grand Canyon Railway to remove and replace a wooden ballast bridge (also referred to as a wooden triple box culvert) at the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park.
The wooden ballast bridge, constructed in 1926, is in poor condition and beyond repairs. The bridge crosses over Bright Angel Wash, north of the historic Powerhouse building and Village Loop Bypass Road, in Grand Canyon Village. Trains cross over this bridge daily as they travel between Williams, Arizona, and Grand Canyon Village, providing the only train access into a United States national park.
The proposed project would replace the existing wooden ballast bridge with three 120-feet-long by 60-inch-diameter steel pipe culverts.
The wooden ballast bridge is a contributing feature to the Grand Canyon Railway Historic District and the Grand Canyon Village National Historic Landmark District. In consultation with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the NPS determined the removal of the wooden ballast bridge would have an adverse effect on the historic districts. A programmatic agreement was prepared, in consultation with the Arizona SHPO, for the removal and replacement of the wooden ballast bridge in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
In addition, a Wetland Statement of Findings (WSOF) has been prepared due to impacts to Bright Angel Wash that would result from the proposed project. The project would permanently impact 0.0961 acres of Bright Angel Wash, which is considered an ephemeral waterway under NPS Director's Order #77-1: Wetland Protection. Another 0.0038 acres of Bright Angel Wash would be temporarily disturbed and restored after construction. Impacts to the wash were minimized through design, and compensatory mitigation is not proposed because the impacts are under one-tenth of an acre. The Wetland Statement of Findings documents compliance with Executive Order 11990 and the NPS wetland policies and procedures found in NPS Directors Order #77-1 and Procedural Manual #77-1.
To view the programmatic agreement and WSOF click on "Document List." Click on "Open for Comment" to view documents that are open for public comment.
Catherine Lentz (Section 106 PA), Zach Kresl (WSOF)
The wooden ballast bridge, constructed in 1926, is in poor condition and beyond repairs. The bridge crosses over Bright Angel Wash, north of the historic Powerhouse building and Village Loop Bypass Road, in Grand Canyon Village. Trains cross over this bridge daily as they travel between Williams, Arizona, and Grand Canyon Village, providing the only train access into a United States national park.
The proposed project would replace the existing wooden ballast bridge with three 120-feet-long by 60-inch-diameter steel pipe culverts.
The wooden ballast bridge is a contributing feature to the Grand Canyon Railway Historic District and the Grand Canyon Village National Historic Landmark District. In consultation with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the NPS determined the removal of the wooden ballast bridge would have an adverse effect on the historic districts. A programmatic agreement was prepared, in consultation with the Arizona SHPO, for the removal and replacement of the wooden ballast bridge in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
In addition, a Wetland Statement of Findings (WSOF) has been prepared due to impacts to Bright Angel Wash that would result from the proposed project. The project would permanently impact 0.0961 acres of Bright Angel Wash, which is considered an ephemeral waterway under NPS Director's Order #77-1: Wetland Protection. Another 0.0038 acres of Bright Angel Wash would be temporarily disturbed and restored after construction. Impacts to the wash were minimized through design, and compensatory mitigation is not proposed because the impacts are under one-tenth of an acre. The Wetland Statement of Findings documents compliance with Executive Order 11990 and the NPS wetland policies and procedures found in NPS Directors Order #77-1 and Procedural Manual #77-1.
To view the programmatic agreement and WSOF click on "Document List." Click on "Open for Comment" to view documents that are open for public comment.
Contact Information
Media inquiries please contact grca_public_affairs@nps.govCatherine Lentz (Section 106 PA), Zach Kresl (WSOF)