Amtrak plans to replace the 116-year-old Susquehanna River Rail Bridge in Maryland, the longest moveable bridge on the Northeast Corridor. The project was included in the Federal Railroad Administration’s recently released Northeast Corridor Project Inventory and is one of several Amtrak’s Capital Delivery department advanced.
The approximately $1.5 billion project will replace the current bridge with two two-track fixed new bridges. Work will also include modernizing overhead power, signal, safety, and security systems and five miles of additional track realignment and construction.
The two-track movable bridge requires trains to slow to a speed of 90 miles per hour.
“The bridge was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad at the turn of the 20th century, and while it was well-constructed and remains safe, it is a significant bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor,” Laura Mason, Amtrak executive vice president of Capital Delivery, said. “Once complete, both new bridges will reduce trip time and improve reliability for passenger and freight trains that rely on this critical connection.”
The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration recently awarded the project $3 million toward a design grant.
In addition to Amtrak, the bridge is used by Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail and Norfolk Southern. It supports more than 110 passenger and freight trains daily.