The Amtrak-owned Connecticut River Bridge Replacement project will receive $US 65.2m, while the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)-owned Walk Bridge replacement project will receive $US 79.7m. The projects will raise the maximum speed at which trains can travel on the bridges.
The Connecticut River Bridge, which was built in in 1907 and carries Amtrak and Shore Line East trains, will undergo a full replacement. The new bridge will run along a new alignment parallel to and south of the existing bridge, offering improved reliability and higher speeds for Amtrak and Shore Line East trains. The project also includes submarine cable relocation and the construction of retaining walls and a new alignment for the embankment.
The existing movable walk bridge in Norwalk, built in 1896, has experienced increasing deterioration of electrical and mechanical components. The new bridge will include two movable spans carrying two tracks each, which can operate individually in the event of a necessary track outage; new approach embankments and retaining walls; installation of new catenary structures; and signal system upgrades.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Septa), in partnership with Amtrak and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), has also received $US 15.9m to improve signalling on the Amtrak-owned Harrisburg line, also known as the Keystone Line. The line serves Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian and Keystone Service inter-city services.
The FRA grant funding will support upgrades to the train control signal systems on the line between Paoli and Overbrook, enabling greater operational flexibility and higher operating speeds.
