PHASE ONE
Construction of the new parallel bridge and demo existing
Phase 1 consists of the construction of a new two-track bridge located west of the existing Bridge (the “West Bridge”) and associated work, including five miles of new approach trackwork, undertrack bridges, retaining walls, interlocking work, relocation of existing utilities, civil work, and demolition of the existing Susquehanna River Rail Bridge.
The new West Bridge will have a higher vertical clearance for marine traffic, eliminating freight and passenger train disruptions due to bridge openings and easing marine navigation. It will also allow train speeds of up to 125 mph to match adjacent infrastructure and offer safer, smoother rides and reduced maintenance costs by using ballasted track.
PHASE TWO
Construction of the new 2nd bridge
Phase 2 consists of the construction of a new two-track bridge located east of the newly-constructed West Bridge (the “East Bridge”) and all associated work, including trackwork, retaining walls, interlocking work, catenary work, and approach bridges. Scope of Work to remove the existing Bridge will be included either in Phase 1 or Phase 2.
Project Phases
The Susquehanna River Rail Bridge (“SRB” or the “Bridge”) between the City of Havre de Grace in Harford County, Maryland and the Town of Perryville in Cecil County, Maryland is a critical component of the Northeast Corridor (“NEC”), which serves over 50 million people and connects over 700,000 passengers each day.
The existing SRB—at over 115 years old—is beyond its useful life. While adjacent infrastructure allows speeds up to 125 mph, the bridge restricts passenger train speeds to 90 mph, increasing travel time for thousands of daily passengers on the NEC. In addition, the SRB has a moveable swing span that opens approximately 10 times annually; all rail traffic must stop for three hours, causing considerable disruption.
The Project will replace the one (1) existing two-track moveable bridge with two (2) new two-track fixed high-level bridges. The SRB project will be constructed in multiple phases.