Bush River Bridge Replacement Project

Quick Facts

Planning

  • State of Good Repair (SOGR)
  • Maintaining reliable operations on the Northeast Corridor 
  • Increased Acela train speeds to 160 MPH. 
  • Increased capacity allowing for more frequent MARC and Amtrak service 

Summer 2025: Planned initiation of PE and NEPA activities 

2028: Planned completion of PE and NEPA 

2030: Estimated Initiation of Construction 

Summer 2024: Planning Consultant Contract Awarded 

2025: Completion of planning & initiation of Preliminary Engineering and NEPA 

MDOT Maryland Transit Administration

FY22-23 Fed State Partnership Program with match by Amtrak and MDOT Maryland Transit Administration

The Bush River Bridge is a critical component of the Northeast Corridor and carries over 100 trains per day. This century-old bridge is approaching the end of its useful life and is need of replacement to maintain reliable service and accommodate high-speed operations.

The Bush River Bridge Replacement Project will modernize a critical Northeast Corridor (NEC) component, replacing the century-old, half-mile, two-track movable bridge between Edgewood and Perryman, Maryland. The current structure, used by Amtrak, MARC, and Norfolk Southern, requires frequent maintenance, limits passenger train speeds to 125 mph, and demands a 20-person crew during summer weekends to open for marine traffic. The replacement will feature a modern, fixed-span structure capable of supporting speeds up to 160 mph, improving reliability, reducing maintenance needs, and shortening travel times for passengers between Washington, D.C., Boston, and other NEC destinations. In addition to the new bridge, the project includes upgrades to track alignment, signal systems, and electric traction infrastructure over a 10-mile NEC segment to support higher speeds and expand track capacity. These enhancements will improve operational efficiency and performance.


The Bush River Bridge Replacement Project abuts the Gunpowder River Bridge Replacement Project.