SYRACUSE, NY — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District, will soon begin work on a $27-million project to modernize and expand railway-loading facilities for the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum in northern New York. Last fall, a contract was awarded to Structural Associates, Inc., of East Syracuse, New York.

Expected to be complete in late 2023, improvements will benefit the 10th Mountain Division — a joint team of specially-trained U.S. Soldiers and airmen performing operations in rugged, mountainous terrain. Located near the Canadian border where harsh winters are common, Fort Drum is a facility encompassing 107,000 acres, employing 4,700 civilians, and training some 80,000 troops each year with nearly 20,000 soldiers — and their families — stationed there.

Fort Drum’s Garrison Commander, Col. James Zacchino, Jr., recently commented in a U.S. Army news article: “Any time we can improve our infrastructure and provide greater support to our soldiers, it is a good day. This project is a solid investment in Fort Drum’s reputation as a premiere power-projection platform for our Army and our nation.”

During a site visit some months ago, New York District Commander Col. Matthew Luzzatto inspected the railhead while reviewing a number of Army Corps projects at the base. It was a homecoming of sorts: In 2002 Luzzatto was assigned to the 41st Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, where he served as Assistant Operations Officer and Battalion Adjutant during the battalion’s deployment to Afghanistan in 2003.

“Fort Drum is known for its ability to project power [send troops] around the world," Luzzatto said. "We’re going to build them [10th Mountain Division] a whole new railhead system to move heavy equipment. This will streamline operations and increase efficiency, facilitating timely deployments.”

Major aspects of the work include:

• A mile of new track includes four parallel tracks with five new loading ramps, allowing simultaneous drive-on loading of rolling stock.
• Container-side loading area allowing container boxes to be loaded at the railhead. (The current railhead lacks this capability)
• A 5,000-square-foot Railhead Operations Building with restrooms and general space for 100 Soldiers to relax and take breaks from deployment operations during harsh conditions. It is equipped with energy-efficient foundation, roof, walls, doors, windows, and ceiling.
• Scale house with weigh in motion and profiling system to expedite loading operations
• Marshalling yard (an area where railway cars are separated onto different tracks)
• Alert holding area (a control area for equipment and vehicles prior to loading)
• Container-handling and storage/repair facility with staging area
• Other improvements include overhead lighting, electric, water, sewer, and gas utilities, a parking lot, and concrete truck-loading ramps. New facilities will have a 40-plus year design life; existing tracks will remain active during construction, except for scheduled shutdowns and infrastructure installations.