Amtrak will soon construct a new Connecticut River Bridge to replace the existing bridge that carries the Northeast Corridor rail over the water separating Old Saybrook and Old Lyme.
A release from Amtrak on Friday said the construction contract has been awarded to O&G/Tutor Perini, a joint venture. The milestone follows the recent approval of permits by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
The new bridge will improve reliability and reduce delays for Amtrak’s intercity services, Connecticut Shore Line East commuter service and freight operators along the Northeast Corridor, which is America’s busiest rail corridor, the release said.
Amtrak plans to construct a new two-track bridge to replace the existing two-track bridge that sits roughly between New York City and Providence, R.I.
The new, movable bridge will be located immediately south of the existing movable bridge. It will feature modern track, signal, catenary, power, communication and other supporting rail infrastructure.
The bridge will be designed with a maximum operating speed of 70 mph, a 55% increase from today’s maximum speed of 45 mph, the release said. Maritime navigation and safety will also improve due to additional vertical clearance compared to the existing bridge.
Garrett Eucalitto, commissioner of DOT, said the new bridge will serve the entire Northeast Corridor.
“The new structure, built by Connecticut’s building trades, will improve safety, reliability and increase operating speeds along the long. DOT is grateful for the continued support of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration, the advocacy of our Congressional Delegation and collaboration of our partners at Amtrak."
Source: Amtrack, Fox61News.com
