Amtrak and its key project partners have marked the start of the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project in Northeast Maryland, with early construction works underway.
The event was attended by Amtrak CEO, Stephen Gardner; US Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary, Polly Trottenberg; Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Amit Bose; Maryland Transportation Secretary, Paul J. Wiedefeld; MTA Administrator, Holly Arnold and state and local officials.

The Susquehanna River Rail Bridge serves approximately 110 daily Amtrak, MARC commuter rail, and freight trains.
This 2.7 billion USD replacement project is supported by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to ensure continued connectivity along the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
US Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg said:The Susquehanna River Bridge project is another example of how the Biden-Harris Administration is making historic investments in passenger rail and delivering safer, faster more reliable service along the Northeast Corridor. With funding made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’, our Department is supporting this project with more than $2 billion in grant funding and ensuring the Susquehanna River Bridge can continue linking communities in Maryland and across eight states for generations to come.
The project’s initial pre-construction works include the removal of remnant bridge piers from the Susquehanna River, as well as utility upgrades in the Town of Perryville.
In the Susquehanna River, an Amtrak contractor is safely demolishing and removing 10 remnant piers. These piers remain from an 1866 railroad bridge, which had its superstructure removed several decades ago.
In Perryville, Amtrak is working with two local utility companies to complete critical upgrades before construction of the first bridge can begin.
Baltimore Gas & Electric will replace the existing 1930s-era transmission tower that feeds power to an Amtrak substation for the electrified NEC. It must be relocated to avoid conflicts with the future west bridge approach. Additionally, Delmarva is relocating aerial power lines underground to eliminate future aerial conflicts.
These early works will allow for the start of bridge construction later next year.
Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said:Amtrak is excited to kick off early work on this important bridge upgrade, one of several major Amtrak infrastructure megaprojects now underway or set to begin by the end of 2024. Thanks to funding from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, continued support from the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress, and strong coordination with our partners, Amtrak is advancing a new era of passenger rail with state-of-the-art bridges, tunnels and trains on the way.
Once completed, the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project will increase passenger rail capacity by replacing the current single two-track bridge with two new two-track bridges.
It will modernise and improve five miles of track, catenary, and signals, including three interlockings, thus enhancing reliability and safety. Thanks to this work, train speeds will increase, with a new maximum speed of 160 mph enabling faster trip times.
The new higher fixed-span bridges will also eliminate conflicts with maritime traffic.
Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said:The launch of the Susquehanna River Bridge project brings Maryland and the entire Northeast Corridor closer to modernizing passenger rail infrastructure and improving safety for MARC and Amtrak service. The new bridge will allow for faster trains, more reliable service and will make riding intercity passenger rail more convenient for all.