Amtrak Connecticut River Bridge Replacement

O&G and joint venture partner, Tutor Perini Corporation, have been contracted by AMTRAK to construct the replacement Connecticut River Bridge (CRB). The 1.3 billion-dollar project is expected to be completed in July 2030. The CRB project, which replaces the existing 116-year-old bridge, 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 will be built approximately 50 feet to the south of the existing structure to allow for continued service throughout construction, with tie-ins back to the existing tracks approximately 1,000 to 1,500 feet off the bridge structure on each end. Key aspects of this project include:

• Utilization of 25,000 cubic yards of concrete 

• Over 13 million pounds of structural steel including a 207-foot-long bascule span 

• More than 4 million pounds of reinforcing steel 

• Drilling of deep foundation shafts of varying diameters (3’, 4’, 6’, and 8’) 

• Installation of catenary systems 

• Demolition of the old structure upon completion of the new 

The existing Connecticut River Bridge was first built in 1907. It opens for maritime traffic several times a day during peak boating season. It serves more than 50 daily Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela trains, CTrail Shore Line East commuter service trains, and freight trains. The aging bridge’s failure to open and close consistently can result in cascading delays to rail and maritime traffic. The new bridge structure will allow for better reliability and decreased travel delays due to trains traveling on a more modern infrastructure. It is expected to have a useful life of 100 years. The joint venture will employ upwards of 150 personnel at its peak, with up to 300 personnel on site, including subcontractors. Rail traffic will remain in service throughout the project. This $1.3 billion project is supported by a $826.64 million Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The remaining portion will be funded by Amtrak and the State of Connecticut. This investment will ensure continued connectivity along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) – America’s busiest passenger rail corridor – while enabling plans to expand intercity passenger rail service in the region and across the nation.