EDGEWOOD, Md. — Amtrak has announced the selection of HNTB, an infrastructure and architectural design firm, to lead the preliminary engineering for the replacement of two critical bridges in Maryland. This decision marks a significant step in the modernization of the Northeast Corridor.
The bridges in question are the Gunpowder River Bridge and the Bush River Bridge, located approximately 7.5 miles apart between Chase and Aberdeen, Maryland. Each bridge supports over 100 daily train services, including those operated by Amtrak, MARC, and Norfolk Southern. Both structures were built in 1913 and are nearing the end of their operational lifespan, necessitating frequent maintenance and limiting train speeds to 125 mph. Notably, the movable Bush River Bridge requires a 20-person crew to operate for marine traffic during the summer weekends, but the new design will feature a fixed-span structure.
With the planned replacements, train speeds could increase to 145 mph on the Gunpowder River Bridge and 160 mph on the Bush River Bridge. Additionally, the projects will include enhancements to track, signal systems, and electric traction infrastructure across a 10-mile stretch of the Northeast Corridor.
“These projects are two important examples of Amtrak’s long-term vision to modernize the Northeast Corridor’s century-old tunnels, bridges, and more,” stated Laura Mason, Amtrak’s executive vice president of capital delivery, in a press release.
The preliminary engineering work is expected to be completed by 2029, supported by a grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, along with funding from Amtrak and the Maryland Transit Administration. However, final design and construction funding has yet to be allocated.
Christian Brown, project manager at HNTB, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “These projects represent an important opportunity to continue our longstanding partnership with Amtrak on infrastructure that is essential to the Northeast Corridor. Our team looks forward to collaborating to develop solutions that align with Amtrak’s operational goals while supporting reliable service throughout the life of the project.”
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