Amtrak has completed a key early construction milestone for the Susquehanna River Bridge Project, removing the 10th and final remnant pier from the river. This is one of several necessary steps before beginning major construction of two new bridges that will replace the existing two-track Susquehanna River bridge which originally opened in 1906.
Amtrak’s contractor Fay Construction began demolition and removal of 10 leftover piers, which remained from a nearby 1866 railroad bridge that had its superstructure removed several decades ago. This critical early work package was completed in November, on schedule with zero safety incidents or lost time.
As part of Amtrak’s commitment to partnering with local communities the company also salvaged important pieces of history for our partners on both sides of the river, the Town of Perryville and City of Harvre de Grace.
Amtrak salvaged some original stones from a few piers, including one block engraved with the date 1877 (commemorating later upgrades to the 1866 structure). These stones were delivered to the City of Harvre de Grace and the Town of Perryville, at their request. The stone blocks were made of locally sourced granite from the Port Deposit quarry just upriver from the project area.
The piers have long been an impediment to boaters. Removing the piers will help mitigate a serious potential safety hazard for the many boaters that travel along the Susquehanna River.
The federal environmental review process for this project identified removal of the remnant bridge piers as a necessary step toward building the new and improved bridge replacement that will enable top speeds of 160 mph, while also improving safety and navigation along this portion of the Susquehanna River.
All work was conducted in adherence to State and Federally regulated time-of-year restrictions, protecting aquatic plants and wildlife.
Prior to the removal process the team installed bird deterrent nets on the piers to prevent disruption to the potential nesting of migratory species.
The Susquehanna River Bridge is a vital piece of infrastructure that serves approximately 110 daily Amtrak, MARC commuter rail and freight trains. This important megaproject will ensure continued connectivity along the Northeast Corridor while enabling plans to expand intercity passenger rail service in the region and across the nation.
Final design is underway, and major construction is expected to begin in mid-to-late 2025.
