Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner, alongside U.S. Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Polly Trottenberg, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, Representative Joe Courtney, Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto, and other local officials, marked the beginning of construction on the new Connecticut River Bridge between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, Connecticut.
The current bridge, completed in 1907, accommodates over 50 daily Amtrak Northeast Regional and Acela trains, as well as CTrail Shore Line East commuter and freight trains. During peak boating season, the bridge opens frequently for maritime traffic, but its aging infrastructure often causes delays for both rail and maritime operations due to inconsistent performance.
The new moveable bridge, featuring a trunnion bascule span design, will include upgraded track, signal systems, catenary, power, communications, and other essential infrastructure. It will increase the maximum train speed from 45 mph to 70 mph, a 55% improvement, while enhancing maritime navigation with greater vertical clearance.
This project will ensure continued connectivity along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), the busiest passenger rail line in the U.S., while supporting future plans to expand intercity rail service both regionally and nationally.
Amtrak awarded the construction contract earlier this summer and hosted a public meeting to inform the community. Rail service will continue throughout the project, which is scheduled for completion by 2031.
The $1.3 billion project is funded in part by an $826.64 million grant from the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail, made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, with the remainder provided by Amtrak and the State of Connecticut.
“Amtrak is thrilled to join our partners to break ground on the new Connecticut River Bridge, a project decades in the making,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “When completed, this modern bridge will improve the customer experience by eliminating delays, providing faster journeys and modernizing another critical infrastructure asset in Connecticut that benefits the entire Northeast Corridor. Today’s milestone would not be possible without funding from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act and continued support from the Biden-Harris Administration along with Connecticut’s champions of rail in Governor Lamont, Senator Blumenthal, Senator Murphy, Congressman Courtney, Commissioner Eucalitto and so many others.”
“Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration—and the largest investment in passenger rail since Amtrak was founded—we’re replacing the century-old Connecticut River Bridge with a safer, more reliable structure,” said U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “This bridge is a critical point for freight and passenger rail and maritime traffic along the Northeast, and the new bridge will deliver the faster, more reliable service Americans deserve.”
“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,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. The Connecticut River Bridge is more than 100 years old, and this major modernization project will ensure that trains can operate with higher speeds and fewer disruptions well into the future. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues delivering for Connecticut and the entire region.”
“Today marks the beginning of faster rail travel for commuters and other rail passengers,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. “The Connecticut River Bridge is in desperate need of upgrades, and I am thrilled that work is underway to replace it. I am proud Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars are at work improving aging infrastructure in Connecticut, and I will continue fighting to deliver more of this critical funding to our state.”
“The Connecticut River Bridge is one of the most critical sections of northeast rail corridor, but its aging infrastructure has led to disruptions, slower travel times, and delays, creating massive headaches for the thousands of commuters who travel across it,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. “This project has been years in the making, and it is only happening because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Now, thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are finally starting a project to improve reliability, reduce traffic, and make life easier for travelers and commuters in our state.”
“Ever since the determination was made in 2006 that the bridge was structurally deficient, my office has been leading federal efforts to support construction of a safer and faster rail line for passengers and freight. Importantly, even before the federal infrastructure law, which is funding the new bridge, became law, my office secured a commitment from Amtrak that the bridge would be built under a Project Labor Agreement that guarantees our local workforce will execute construction,” said U.S. Representative Joe Courtney. “This means Connecticut’s workers will benefit from the highest safety standards, good wages, and high quality job training.”
“I am thrilled to see the Connecticut River Bridge project begin this week!” said Connecticut State Senator Christine Cohen (District 12), Chair of the Transportation Committee. “This project is a great example of collaboration between the private sector and the federal and state governments to invest into public transportation in the Northeast Corridor. Once completed, this project will improve reliability, train speeds and connectivity in our region and I’m committed to continuing to work together with our partners to make our rails more accessible for riders across the region.”
“This bridge represents a great leap forward for our local public transportation,” said Connecticut State Senator and Deputy Majority Leader Marth Marx (District 20). “People can trust that their trains will arrive on time and get them where they need to go at a faster pace than ever before. Rail travel is a vital connection point in our community, as well as in New England and throughout the nation. I’m very pleased to see Amtrak making such admirable improvements to their services.”
“Rebuilding the Connecticut River Bridge is a transformational investment for the future of passenger rail service in the Northeast Corridor,” said Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto. “With modern engineering and design, the new bridge will accommodate growing ridership demand, faster and more reliable travel times, and stimulate the local and regional economy. Thank you to the FRA for investing in Connecticut through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We look forward to working closely with our partners at Amtrak as this project moves forward.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has enabled long overdue transportation upgrades like the Connecticut River Bridge Project along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor,” said Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO) President Greg Regan. “We’re proud that this project will utilize union workers, providing an economic boost to surrounding communities, and will improve service on America’s busiest passenger rail line.”
“Chalk up another win for America’s rail passengers from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” said Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim Mathews. “Thanks to the BIL’s historic levels of capital funding, passengers on Amtrak and commuter rail on the busy Northeast Corridor can look forward to traveling faster, more safely, and more reliably over the Connecticut River than we do today. Replacing this 117-year-old bridge is just another example of how the BIL is helping to reverse decades of underinvestment in vital infrastructure, and our Association applauds Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the Connecticut Department of Transportation for getting this vital project moving.”