Amtrak will start the procurement phase for to select a contractor for the construction of a new Connecticut River Bridge in 2023. The bridge, which is part of a more than $500 million investment from Amtrak, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), will be delivered using the design-bid-build delivery method. Amtrak expects to award a contract in late 2023 with construction expect to start in early 2024.
“Building a new Connecticut River Bridge is one of several projects Amtrak is advancing that signifies we’re in a new era for rail,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason. “We thank our partners for their support, and we look forward to awarding the contract so we can get shovels in the ground for a project that will improve reliability of the NEC and train travel in Connecticut and beyond.”
The replacement of the 115-year-old bridge will allow for better reliability and decreased delays for travelers due to trains traveling on more modern infrastructure.
Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti added, “Thanks to the Federal Railroad Administration's and the Connecticut Federal delegation's continued support of Connecticut’s rail infrastructure and our ongoing partnership with Amtrak, much-needed improvements to the Connecticut River Bridge are on the horizon. This area is a critical piece of infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor, and through this project, services will improve, and speeds will increase. We look forward to working with Amtrak and all our partners on this important project.”
The Connecticut River Bridge, first built in 1907, is located on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme and is used by Amtrak, CTRail’s Shore Line East and freight trains. The project will involve building a two-track, electrified, and resilient movable bridge structure equipped with new track, signal, catenary, power, communication, controls, and security features. The new bridge structure is expected to have a useful life of 150 years. As part of the project, the selected contractor will also perform any environmental mitigation required by the permitting/NEPA process.
This is one of several major infrastructure projects that Amtrak’s newest department, Capital Delivery, is advancing. Earlier this year, the procurement launch was announced for the replacement of the B&P Tunnel in Maryland and Amtrak will be announcing similar procurement opportunities in the coming months.
