Toyota Rail Spur

BLUE SPRINGS, MS

Keeping Toyota connected, by road and rail

In a large-scaled economic development partnership, a new industrial rail spur was constructed from the BNSF railroad to the Toyota manufacturing plant in Blue Springs. Neel-Schaffer was selected to provide design and inspection services for the final rail project and the future Interstate 22 bridge, as well as design services for the Highway 178 bridge.

Neel-Schaffer designed several portions of the project:

  • The 550-foot rail bridge spanning US 78 (future I-22), a four-lane divided highway with CD Lane and Frontage Road.
  • The 150-foot rail bridge spanning SR 178 178, a two-lane roadway.

The $4.1 million project included 26,000 feet of track, 115 pound rail, and seven switches.

Neel-Schaffer incorporated steel ties into the final design of the rail spur, rather than wood ties, resulting in a significant savings for the client along with a more maintenance-free final product.

The project, which was contracted by the PUL (Pontotoc, Union, and Lee County) Alliance Railroad Spur Project and funded by the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority (MMEIA), allowed direct rail service to distributors nationwide.