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3/9/2023
Rail News: Amtrak

Amtrak to begin construction activities for B&P tunnel replacement



Early construction activities for the first phase of the $6 billion project begin tomorrow and are expected to wrap up in early summer.
Photo – amtrak.com

Amtrak announced yesterday it’s ready to begin early construction activities tomorrow for the $6 billion B&P Tunnel Replacement Program in West Baltimore and Halethorpe, Maryland.

The work calls for replacing aging wood ties with new concrete ties, installing new rail and completing track drainage improvements. The upgrades will enable high-speed operations on all four tracks in the track segment, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

The first phase of construction is expected to conclude in summer, with additional work related to the replacement of an existing turnout in Winans to be completed in a future construction phase.

The B&P is Amtrak’s oldest tunnel on the Northeast Corridor at nearly 150 years old. The 1.4-mile tunnel connects Baltimore to Washington, D.C., and has a number of age-related issues that cause excessive water infiltration, structure deterioration and rail service delays, Amtrak officials said.

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