The Gunpowder 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 in need of replacement to maintain reliable service and accommodate high-speed operations. 

The Gunpowder River Bridge Replacement Project will replace a century-old, nearly one-mile long, two-track bridge in northern Maryland, which serves Amtrak, MARC, and Norfolk Southern. The existing structure, approaching the end of its useful life, requires frequent maintenance and restricts passenger train speeds to 125 mph. The replacement will feature a modern bridge with increased track capacity, supporting speeds of 145 mph or higher, enhancing travel efficiency, reducing maintenance, and shortening trip times for passengers traveling between Washington, D.C., Boston, and other NEC destinations. The project also includes upgrades to track alignment, signal systems, and electric traction infrastructure to support higher speeds and improve operational reliability over the river crossing and its approaches.

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