Several train bridges in Connecticut to be replaced with nearly $2 billion in federal funding

President Joe Biden has announced new federal funding to repair and replace rail infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor and some of the money is being used to replace bridges in Connecticut.

On Monday, Biden announced the $16.4 billion in new funding for 25 different passenger projects on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor through the Federal Railroad Administration's Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program.

The money is expected to help rebuild tunnels and bridges that are more than 100 years old, upgrade infrastructure including tracks, power systems, signals and stations and help future projects to improve travel times with operating speeds and reducing delays.

Connecticut is expected to receive nearly $2 billion to fund 10 different projects.

Included in the major awarded projects is $827 million that will be used to replace the 116-year-old Connecticut River Bridge in Old Saybrook and Old Lyme with a new resilient movable bridge. It is used by Amtrak, CTRail's Shore Line East and freight trains.

“When it comes to rail, you will be able to get from New London to New Haven, to Stamford, New York, or up to Hartford much faster, more time to be at home with your family faster to be able to get to and from work," Gov. Ned Lamont said.

The White House says the replacement aims to increase reliability and safety, as well as increase rail speeds from 45 mph to 70 mph. Construction on the project is set to begin in 2024. Amtrak says the new bridge is expected to have a design life of 150 years.

Other projects in Connecticut include:

• $465 million for the WALK Bridge Replacement Project
  • The project will replace the existing deteriorating bridge with a new bridge structure.
  • It will also improve safety and reliability of rail service along the New Haven Line and NEC.
• $245.92 million for the Devon Bridge Replacement Project
  • This will provide a safe and reliable bridge crossing for rail over the river and marine navigation under the rail.
  • State officials said the Devon Bridge serves as a critical transportation link between Stamford and New Haven on Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line and between New York and Boston on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. It carries 6,300 passengers every day.
• $122.8 million for the New Haven Line Power Improvement Program
  • This is a phased approach to replace power equipment across three areas of the New Haven Line Power System
    • Two signal substations, two balancing substations and power apparatus at three supply substations are expected to be replaced.
• $119.32 million for Devon Bridge Interim Repairs
  • This makes sure the bridge is structurally reliable until a major rehabilitation or replacement like the Devon Bridge Replacement Project.
• $104.87 million for the Hartford Line Rail Program Double Track Phase 3B Project
  • This improves three single-track sections totaling about 6.2 miles of track improvements to double track sections.
  • It will increase the frequency and speed of passenger rail service and will address the intercity transportation needs of Connecticut, Central Mass., Boston and Vermont.
• $71.65 million for the New Haven Line Track Improvement and Mobility Enhancement Part 1 and 3
  • This includes project development and final design for track improvements between mileposts 56.8 and 60.1 on the New Haven Line.
  • It also includes reconstruction of seven rail overpass bridges and upgrades of all tracks to FRA Class 6 standards, track realignments, installation of new interlocking, replacement of catenary system components and railbed drainage improvements.
• $23.2 million for the Saugatuck River Bridge Replacement
  • This will replace the bascule bridge that carries four railroad tracks over the Saugatuck River in Westport.
  • It will improve safety and allow increases to the maximum authorized speed through the section of track.
• $15.4 million for the New Haven Line Network Infrastructure Upgrade Project
  • This will provide security infrastructure upgrades at stations throughout Metro-North Railroad territory and at Cos Cob Bridge.
  • It will also provide network connectivity at 60 locations by connecting them into the 144-fiber optic backbone.
• $4 million for the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study
  • This is a planning study for future infrastructure, speed and capacity improvements between New Haven and Providence, RI.

Federal funding will also go to other major projects in the country including the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel in New York and New Jersey, the Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Maryland, the Susquehanna River Bridge in Maryland and Penn Station Access in New York.

According to Biden's announcement, this new funding is expected to create more than 100,000 union jobs in construction.