CSX Hits Key Milestone in Howard Street Tunnel Project, Paving Way for Double-Stack Trains in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD – CSX has announced the completion of final paving on the Guilford Avenue Bridge, a critical milestone in the multi-year Howard Street Tunnel modernization project. This development keeps the historic Baltimore freight corridor on track for its September 2025 completion, a deadline that will unlock double-stack rail capacity and significantly enhance supply chain efficiency along the U.S. East Coast.

Rail operator CSX confirmed that work on the Guilford Avenue Bridge, a key component of the ambitious Howard Street Tunnel expansion, has concluded with the final paving. The bridge work is one of several enabling projects required to increase the vertical clearance of the 129-year-old tunnel running beneath downtown Baltimore. The successful completion of this phase is a significant step toward the project’s overall goal of modernizing a critical East Coast freight artery. “Raising the bridge allowed us to avoid major disruptions and keep the project on track for the community and our customers,” said Brandon Knapp, CSX’s senior director of Mid-Atlantic construction.

The primary technical objective of the project is to create sufficient vertical clearance throughout the tunnel and its approaches to accommodate double-stack intermodal trains. By lowering the tunnel floor and adjusting overhead obstructions like the Guilford Avenue Bridge, CSX will enable freight containers to be stacked two-high on rail cars. This enhancement effectively doubles the cargo capacity of each train passing through the corridor, leading to dramatic improvements in operational efficiency, reduced fuel consumption per container, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The modernization will remove a long-standing bottleneck that has forced double-stack trains to be rerouted, adding time and cost to supply chains.

Originally constructed in 1895, the Howard Street Tunnel is a piece of vital, yet aging, infrastructure. Its modernization is seen as a strategic imperative for the region’s logistics network, particularly for the Port of Baltimore. As container ships grow larger, the ability to efficiently move massive volumes of goods inland by rail is paramount for a port’s competitiveness. Once complete in September 2025, the expanded tunnel will provide the Port of Baltimore with seamless double-stack rail access to Midwest markets, creating new opportunities for shippers and solidifying the port’s position as a key gateway for international trade.

Key Takeaways

• Project on Schedule: The completion of the Guilford Avenue Bridge work signifies that the complex, multi-faceted tunnel project is advancing toward its September 2025 completion date.
• Unlocking Freight Capacity: The project’s core purpose is to allow double-stack intermodal trains, which will double container capacity and improve the efficiency of freight movement along the I-95 corridor.
• Boosting Port Competitiveness: Enabling double-stack access will make the Port of Baltimore a more attractive destination for global shipping lines, enhancing its ability to move cargo inland.

Editor’s Analysis

The Howard Street Tunnel project is more than just a local infrastructure upgrade; it’s a textbook example of how North American railroads are tackling century-old bottlenecks to meet 21st-century supply chain demands. By investing in modernizing this legacy asset, CSX and its partners are making a strategic play to enhance the competitiveness of rail versus trucking on the congested East Coast. This project demonstrates a crucial industry trend: targeted, high-impact investments in existing corridors can yield outsized returns in network fluidity, environmental performance, and regional economic strength, ultimately reinforcing rail’s essential role in the national logistics framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of the Howard Street Tunnel project?

The primary goal is to increase the tunnel’s vertical clearance to allow the passage of double-stack intermodal freight trains, thereby increasing freight capacity and efficiency along the East Coast.

What was the recent milestone announced by CSX?

CSX announced the completion of the final paving on the Guilford Avenue Bridge in Baltimore, a key enabling step for the larger tunnel expansion project.

When is the Howard Street Tunnel project expected to be completed?

The entire project is on track to be completed by September 2025, opening the corridor to double-stack rail traffic.