Amtrak Completes Early Construction Activities on B&P Tunnel Replacement Program

Photo: Amtrak

BALTIMORE – Starting last March, Amtrak finished its early construction activities as part of its B&P Tunnel Replacement Program ahead of construction of a new Frederick Douglass Tunnel.

Amtrak announced early construction activities on its B&P Tunnel Replacement program has finished, namely Track A from Winans to Bridge interlockings. This work included installing 28,000 feet of new rail, replacing old wooden ties with over 13,000 new concrete ties, and finishing drainage improvements along 5 miles of track.

Earlier this year, Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery, Laura Mason, stated that the “initial project will directly reduce impacts during later construction phases and maximize the benefits of the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel with higher track speeds and greater system capacity.” The B&P Tunnel is the oldest Amtrak tunnel on the Northeast Corridor at almost 150 years old and has suffered from a variety of issues including excessive water infiltration, a deteriorating structure, and delays that affect more than 10% of weekday trains.

Funded by a FY 2019 Federal-State Partnership for the State of Good Repair Program grant, Amtrak officials expect the project to continue its additional project work in the next six months.