Amtrak Appointed HNTB for Maryland Bridge Projects

The firm will design replacements for aging Bush and Gunpowder River bridges to improve rail speeds in Maryland.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Transportation

Amtrak Appointed HNTB for Maryland Bridge Projects

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Amtrak has hired engineering firm HNTB to lead the replacement of the Bush River and Gunpowder River bridges in Maryland. These century-old structures currently limit train speeds and frequently require manual operation.

Why it matters

Replacing these 1913-era bridges is intended to increase travel speeds and capacity while reducing the significant delays that have historically plagued this rail corridor.

The Bush and Gunpowder River bridge projects carry estimated costs of $1.944 billion and $2.446 billion, respectively. Current funding is limited to the $18.8 million and $30 million federal awards granted for early-stage engineering and environmental reviews.

The players

Amtrak

This passenger railroad service operates the national rail network in the United States.

HNTB

This infrastructure firm provides design, engineering, and planning services for large-scale transportation projects.

The details

The scope of the HNTB contract includes comprehensive track alignment, signaling, and electric traction upgrades across a 10-mile section. New designs will transition the current two-track bridges into four-track structures to support higher speeds of 145 mph at Gunpowder River and 160 mph at Bush River.

The existing Bush and Gunpowder River bridges were originally completed in 1913.
Bridge failures caused over 72 hours of total train delays in 2019.
The Federal Railroad Administration awarded early-stage program funding in November 2023.
Amtrak officially announced the appointment of HNTB on October 8, 2026.
Amtrak expects to finish the preliminary engineering stage for the project in 2029.

Market Landscape

These projects follow a development pattern set by the Portal North Bridge replacement project in New Jersey to modernize aging Northeast Corridor infrastructure. The initiative represents a significant consolidation of engineering efforts to resolve long-standing bottlenecks on the rail network.

Commuters may experience improved reliability on the Northeast Corridor once these upgrades replace the manual, slower infrastructure. Future project phases may involve service adjustments as construction transitions from engineering to physical implementation.

The takeaway

Replacing aging infrastructure is critical for accommodating projected ridership growth across the region. Travelers should expect continued manual operations at the Bush River crossing until the engineering and construction phases reach completion.