Amtrak has reached a significant milestone with the selection of a Skanska, Walsh & Herzog Joint Venture for the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project. This complex and critical investment aims to enhance commuter and intercity rail services in the Northeast Corridor. The original 1907 Sawtooth Bridges, now surpassing their design life, have been a bottleneck, limiting train speeds and impacting rail operations. Through innovative construction methods and extensive coordination with various stakeholders, Amtrak is set to replace these aging structures with modern, reliable ones.

Transforming Rail Infrastructure for a Better Future

Selecting the Joint Venture

Amtrak's Executive Vice President, Laura Mason, emphasized the importance of this milestone. The joint venture will conduct pre-construction activities and future contract opportunities for the full construction scope. This investment will construct multiple bridge structures with four total tracks, doubling the track capacity and restoring 90 mph maximum speeds. It will enhance reliability by reducing service disruptions and enabling seamless connectivity.The nearly two-mile project corridor in Kearny, N.J., presents unique challenges due to its congestion and limited access points. However, the new design will modernize rail infrastructure while preserving operations during construction.

Supporting Contracts and Funding

Amtrak has awarded a project and construction management contract to a Joint Venture of AECOM and STV for pre-construction support services. The project is highly rated on the Federal Railroad Administration's NEC Project Inventory and has received multiple grants through the FRA's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Amtrak is contributing the non-local match to these grants, and the FRA has issued a Letter of Intent for future grant funding.

Project Details and Benefits

The project will construct three new bridges along a 1.9-mile corridor. Bridge #1 realigns NJ TRANSIT's Morris & Essex Track 5, creating space for additional NEC tracks. Bridge #2 features two new NEC tracks adjacent to the existing Sawtooth Bridges. Bridge #3 completely replaces the existing Sawtooth Bridges structures.These new bridges will address critical state-of-good-repair needs and meet the growing demand for commuter and intercity rail services. They will improve efficiency, cut travel times, and enhance the overall reliability of the Northeast Corridor.

Reactions and Partnerships

Senators Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker, and Andy Kim, along with Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, Jerrold Nadler, Frank Pallone Jr., Mikie Sherrill, and Josh Gottheimer, all expressed their support for the project. NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kevin S. Corbett and PATH Director/General Manager Clarelle DeGraffe also emphasized the importance of the partnership and the benefits it will bring to customers.Tom Wright from the Regional Plan Association highlighted the critical resiliency and redundancy provided by the bridge replacement and its significance in the broader Gateway Program.Amtrak continues to transform rail and invest in major infrastructure projects. With the awarding of these contracts and the progress made on the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement Project, Amtrak is one step closer to providing a high-quality rail experience for millions of customers.