Amtrak Breaks Ground on $1.3bn Connecticut River Bridge Project

The bridge, built by a joint venture between O&G Industries and Tutor Perini, will replace the existing bridge, which was constructed in 1907 and has faced challenges in opening for maritime traffic.

Amtrak’s new bridge is scheduled for completion in 2031 and will allow trains to travel 55% faster across the river, increasing speeds from 45mph to 70mph, thus improving both efficiency and safety.

Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner commented, “Once completed, this modern bridge will eliminate delays, provide faster journeys, and modernize a critical infrastructure asset in Connecticut that benefits the entire NEC.”

Trains will continue to run along the existing bridge during construction. Amtrak operates over 50 daily services across the river, alongside CTrail Shore Line East commuter trains and freight trains.

The project is partially funded by an $826.64m grant as part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s $16bn package for NEC projects, with Amtrak and its partners focused on significant modernization of the corridor’s infrastructure.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont noted, “The Northeast Corridor is the busiest rail line in the nation, and improvements here mean more jobs, continued economic growth, and an enhanced quality of life.”

Amtrak’s other major NEC projects include the $6bn Frederick Douglass Tunnel, set to replace the 150-year-old Baltimore & Potomac Tunnel in Maryland, the oldest in Amtrak’s network, upon completion in 2035.