Owned by Amtrak, the Sawtooth Bridges carry more than 400 Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains daily over tracks used by NJ TRANSIT, PATH and Conrail freight trains. When completed, the new four-track NEC structure will double track capacity at one of the most congested and complex locations on the NEC where these diverse services converge. The age and current condition of the Sawtooth Bridges also limit trains to speeds of 100 km/h.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) recently awarded this project up to $133.32 million in grant funding to support early construction activities, along with 24 other projects totaling more than $16.4 billion in federal investment across the NEC. The work will upgrade and expand 1.9 miles of the NEC in Kearny, New Jersey, which was built in 1907.
"Construction of the new Sawtooth Bridges requires extensive coordination with our partners at NJ TRANSIT, PATH and Conrail, and we are grateful for their shared commitment to modernizing and bringing this critical section of the NEC into a state of good repair," said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner.
The Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project is one of several major infrastructure projects being planned and executed by Amtrak's Capital Delivery organisation. In September, Amtrak awarded a contract to advance construction on the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program in Maryland. Active procurements are also underway for the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project, the Connecticut River Bridge Project, major fleet facility upgrades and more.
