Gunpowder River Bridge Replacement Program

FRA Award (PDF): FRA.DOT.GOV

Maryland – Gunpowder River Bridge Replacement Program (Up to $30,000,000)

The proposed project includes project development activities to replace the 110-year-old, two-track Gunpowder River Bridge near Chase, MD, with a new four-track structure. In addition to replacing the existing structure, the project will replace or upgrade associated signals, interlockings, and electric traction power infrastructure. The project benefits Amtrak’s intercity services and Maryland Area Regional Commuter Penn Line service, as well as freight operations. As matching funds, Amtrak will provide $5,920,000 and Maryland will provide $1,580,000.

Consistent with the Inventory and NOFO, this Major Capital Project was Highly Rated and is therefore eligible for a Letter of Intent. Following selection, FRA intends to issue a Letter of Intent to the recipient for up to $1,020,800,000 toward final design and construction of this project. The Letter of Intent announces FRA’s intention to obligate an amount to the project from future available funding following satisfactory completion of project development lifecycle stages and a subsequent application and selection under a future FSP-NEC Program NOFO.

I am curious if this bridge will incorporate any pedestrian features that will be accessible to the general public. There are housing developments on either side of the river that a pedestrian facility could be linked to.

TheOneKEA wrote: ↑Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:29 pm I am curious if this bridge will incorporate any pedestrian features that will be accessible to the general public. There are housing developments on either side of the river that a pedestrian facility could be linked to.

Not likely. It's going to be a 4-track, high speed bridge. The existing landings are sufficient to build the extra tracks.

Mr. Wolf, lest we forget that at GUNPOW, there was a third track on which freights would wait for any passenger trains to clear.

It was also a cause of the '87 Chase incident.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 6:20 am Mr. Wolf, lest we forget that at GUNPOW, there was a third track on which freights would wait for any passenger trains to clear.

It was also a cause of the '87 Chase incident.

It was a contributing factor but not THE cause. Having engineers basically be intoxicated while operating heavy machinery was the cause.

This project is very encouraging. This along with the other 2 Maryland movable bridge replacements will eliminate any movable from NYP - WASH with exception of the Newark Dock bridge. However the Dock says replacing Miter rails with straight reail. does that mean that it will no longer be movable?

https://railroads.dot.gov/sites/fra.dot ... PDFa_0.pdf

STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:46 pm

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Tue Nov 07, 2023 6:20 am Mr. Wolf, lest we forget that at GUNPOW, there was a third track on which freights would wait for any passenger trains to clear.

It was also a cause of the '87 Chase incident.

It was a contributing factor but not THE cause. Having engineers basically be intoxicated while operating heavy machinery was the cause.

3 people drunk, high, and watching a sports event on a portable TV was the cuase

IMO Amtrak was much at fault. The track at one time had a derail switch that would send any train into a dirt berm. Amtrak removed the switch with no longer a derail to protect the main line. A contributing factor was the Conrail loco did not have cab signaling with ATC installed.