Replacement work on destroyed Winona trestle begins

WINONA — Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is progressing in replacing the Winona wooden rail bridge destroyed in the Winona Fire on Saturday, Aug. 19.

WSDOT Rail, Freight, and Ports Spokeswoman Janet Matkin said that the replacement of that bridge indicates how important the Palouse River and Coulee Shortline Railroad (PCC) is to Eastern Washington. “The loss of that bridge disrupted rail service through Whitman County,” she said, adding that some products had to be shipped by truck since the railroad was unavailable.

Matkin said the project costs between $2.8 and $3.2 mil...