Amtrak is finally replacing the worst chokepoint on the Northeast Corridor. The Frederick Douglass Tunnel program is building a new pair of rail tunnels under Baltimore to retire the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel, a 150-year-old bore that has slowed trains through the city since the 1870s.
Project Scope
The roughly $6 billion program replaces the 1.4-mile B&P Tunnel with new high-capacity tunnels, along with five new bridges, new track, and modern signaling and ventilation. A Kiewit Infrastructure and J.F. Shea joint venture is delivering the tunnels under a construction-manager-at-risk contract. Major construction is underway, with completion targeted for the mid-2030s. Federal money through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law anchors the budget.
Why It Matters
The old tunnel caps speeds near 30 mph and is a daily source of delay for Amtrak and MARC commuter trains between Washington and the Northeast. New tunnels lift that limit, add capacity, and remove a single point of failure on the busiest passenger rail corridor in the country. It ranks among the largest rail jobs on the East Coast, in the same tier as the Maryland Purple Line now reshaping regional transit. More from Amtrak.
Project Team & Details
| Owner / Client | Amtrak |
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| General Contractor | Kiewit Infrastructure / J.F. Shea JV |
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| Status | Under Construction |
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| Delivery Method | CMAR |
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| Funding Source | Public (Federal) |
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