US-based passenger railway service Amtrak and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) are set to carry out railway bridge rehabilitation works in the state as part of an ongoing partnership.
This comes after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded two grants totalling $145m through the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair programme for two bridge replacement projects in Connecticut.
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The Amtrak-owned Connecticut River Bridge Replacement project received $65.2m, while the CTDOT-owned Walk Bridge replacement project was awarded $79.7m.
CTDOT commissioner Joseph Giulietti said: “Investment in our ageing infrastructure is imperative to maintain and improve reliable, quality rail service for our customers. And those customers, in turn, are critical in supporting the economy of the state and the region.
“I am gratified that by working in conjunction with AMTRAK, FRA, NEC and our congressional delegation, that we have received substantial federal grant assistance toward the replacement and upgrade of these two aged, yet essential bridges on our mutual rail corridor.”
Located between Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, the Connecticut River Bridge is more than a century old and carries Amtrak and Shore Line East trains.
It will be completely replaced to enable trains to cross the bridge at a higher speed, thereby improving service reliability.
Built in 1896, the existing Walk Bridge in Norwalk will be replaced with a new bridge that will feature two movable spans with two tracks each.
Overall, the FRA approved more than $291m in grants last month for 11 intercity passenger rail projects in nine states.
