Our Structures Department handles your railway bridge engineering needs ranging from inspections and ratings, repair and deck plans in timber, concrete, and steel to your design needs for bridges, unloading pits, retaining walls, drainage structures, temporary shoring, and more.

Existing Structures

Design Nine provides a full range of services for existing railroad structures, which includes design of repairs, inspections, and ratings. We also conduct bridge surveys for the study of possible modifications and improvements to your structures. You can count on Design Nine to get the job done accurately and to your specifications in these areas for existing structures:

• Inspections
• Rating/Analysis
• Repair/Recommendations
• Repair Plans
• Deck Plans
• Timber/Concrete/Steel

New Structures

Design Nine completes designs from start to finish including foundations, unloading pits, and direct fixation to retaining walls, drainage structures, temporary and permanent shoring, sand towers, grade separations, and everything in between. Our excellent team of engineers has many years of experience in creating new designs of the following:

• Railway Bridges
• Unloading Pits
• Locomotive Maintenance Pits
• Retaining Walls
• Draining Structures
• Temporary Shoring
• Sand Towers

Bridge Management Programs Per 49CFR Part 237 (Bridge Safety Standards)

We perform ratings, audits, and inspections annually in accordance with the FRA’s (Federal Railroad Administration’s) requirements. We also set up a plan for clients to monitor and document any deficiencies that may occur in the structure.

Retarder Rehabilitations

We design new foundations for existing retarders, and we can also improve grade, alignment, and overall effectiveness of an existing retarder.

Emergency Services

We provide immediate response to derailments and bridge burnouts with inspection and survey support.  Design Nine will begin assisting in restoration of the structure in a timely manner if an emergency were to occur.

Specific State Information

Structural Engineering Services are currently not offered in Illinois.