Amtrak advances Baltimore tunnel replacement, utility relocation work
(UI) — Amtrak has reached several major construction milestones on the Frederick Douglass Tunnel program in Baltimore, advancing utility relocations, bridge replacement, utility tunnel construction and tunnel boring machine (TBM) fabrication as work continues on one of the nation's largest underground transportation infrastructure projects.
Construction crews have progressed work on the new Mulberry Street railroad bridge, advanced fabrication of two TBMs—with the first now more than 50% complete—and reached a key milestone on a 345-foot utility tunnel that will carry water, sewer, communications and electrical utilities beneath existing and future Northeast Corridor tracks. The utility tunnel is scheduled for completion in 2027, with TBM excavation expected to begin in 2028.
Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration also announced design optimizations intended to reduce construction costs and improve constructability. Planned changes include eliminating an intermediate ventilation facility, raising portions of the tunnel alignment to reduce excavation, and resequencing work to accelerate construction while maintaining safety and operational goals.
The Frederick Douglass Tunnel will replace the 153-year-old B&P Tunnel, a major bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor. The broader program includes two new electrified rail tunnels, a new West Baltimore MARC station, approximately 10 miles of rail improvements, utility relocations and bridge reconstruction, with the new tunnel expected to open in 2036.
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