The vertical lift design allows the new bridge to be built in pieces so that two tracks on the New Haven Line remain operational throughout construction with only two-weekend track outages. (Connecticut Department of Transportation image)
Connecticut is set to receive nearly $2 billion in federal funding to repair bridges and update aging infrastructure that serve major rail lines along Amtrak's busy Northeast Corridor and other regional train services.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) selected 10 projects across the state for rehabilitation and modernization through the bipartisan infrastructure law that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden in 2021.
CT Mirror reported that Amtrak sought greater annual funding from Congress, warning of potential disruptions to services and raising concerns about updating its crumbling infrastructure. Some bridges with rail service in Connecticut have needed repairs or replacements for years to fix deteriorating conditions.
The money for some of the state's projects is part of a larger portion of $16.4 billion announced by the Biden administration Nov. 6 for multiple rail projects along the Northeast Corridor that shuttle passengers between Boston and Washington, D.C.
"This grant funding helps address a backlog of major projects and [upgrades] that will help improve the safety and reliability of rail service, offer operational flexibility, and provide for increased capacity, speed, and efficiencies of rail transportation along the Northeast Corridor," noted Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto in a statement.
Gov. Ned Lamont credited the efforts of both the Biden administration and Connecticut's congressional delegation in securing the transportation funding for a state and region that heavily relies upon rail, especially for commuting.
Bulk of Funds To Be Used for Rail Bridge Projects
Nearly half of the money — about $827 million — is going toward the Connecticut River Bridge, a 116-year-old structure used by Amtrak's main line and intercity services as well as Connecticut Shoreline East and freight trains.
The funding will help to replace it with a new moveable bridge that connects the towns of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. The project, slated to begin construction in 2024, will allow trains to operate at higher speeds — up to 70 mph — on the bridge.
State Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, noted that the current Connecticut River Bridge was deemed "structurally deficient" as far back as 2006. For the past few years, he and other lawmakers in the state's delegation have pushed for increased funding to help repair the crossing, located in his district.
"Today's announcement of an additional $826 million federal grant ensures that the entire construction phase will be fully funded, and not delayed any more by incremental piecemeal grants," Courtney said in a news release. "When this new bridge is finished, rail traffic will be safer and faster for passengers on the Northeast Corridor-Acela Express, Northeast Regional, and Shoreline East, as well as freight traffic."
The new grants also will help with bridge replacements in a few other areas of Connecticut, according to CT Mirror:
- In Norwalk, a total of $465 million was awarded to replace the WALK Bridge, an existing rail structure that is part of the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor.
- The Devon Bridge, also known as the Washington Bridge, secured $245 million for its replacement project, as well as another $119 million for interim repairs until the new construction begins. That bridge, which has gotten further financial commitments from FRA, carries thousands of people each day between the New Haven line and the Northeast Corridor.
- The moveable Saugatuck River Bridge in Westport will receive $23.2 million for its replacement. When finished, the work is expected to improve safety and also allow trains to operate at maximum authorized speed.
In addition, Connecticut's rail grants also will help with various repair projects on the New Haven Line and Hartford Line:
- A total of more than $213 million will go toward replacements of power equipment, project development of track improvements on some parts of the route, and security infrastructure upgrades on the New Haven Line.
- Almost $105 million is earmarked for an expansion of three sections of the Hartford Line by building double tracks to increase speed and passenger rail service for Connecticut and other states around New England.
"The Northeast Corridor is the busiest rail line in the nation, and improvements here mean more jobs, continued economic growth, and improved quality of life," Lamont said in a statement. "Many of our railroad bridges are more than 100 years old, and this major investment of funding ensures that trains can operate with higher speeds and fewer disruptions well into the future."
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