Amtrak announced it was continuing to move forward on two bridge replacement projects for the Bush River Bridge and the Gunpowder River Bridge in Maryland.
Amtrak selected HNTB for architectural and engineering services for both projects. The bridges span a critical section of the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Baltimore and Wilmington, and each carries more than 100 Amtrak, Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) commuter trains, and freight trains every day. The bridges’ replacement will help improve safety and reliability, while allowing Amtrak and MARC to add train service in the future.
“Today marks a critical step in the long journey to replace both the Bush River and Gunpowder River Bridges, key to improving the travel experience as record Amtrak ridership is projected to continue growing over the next decade,” Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason said. “These projects are two important examples of Amtrak’s long-term vision to modernize the Northeast Corridor’s century-old tunnels, bridges, and more.”
Officials said the outdated structure of the moveable Bush River Bridge requires a 20-percon crew during the summer to open for marine traffic. The bridge’s replacement will relieve some of that strain on resources, officials said.
The two projects include upgrades to track alignment, signal systems and electric traction over a 10-mile stretch, expanding track capacity once both projects are constructed. The replacement will also allow for higher speeds for both bridges.