17 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

ProgressiveRailroading.com, 1/11:

Amtrak to replace nearly century-old Thames River Bridge

Amtrak will spend $76 million to replace the 87-year-old Thames River Bridge between New London and Groton, Conn.

The national intercity passenger railroad recently awarded a contract to Cianbro Corp. to complete the two-year project, which calls for replacing the bridge’s bascule lift span. Later this month, workers will begin installing seven new underwater communications and signal submarine cables.

Continue here.

[NickG]

From Amtrak, 1/11/06:

Amtrak and Cianbro Corp. Announce $76 Million Bridge Span Replacement at New London, Conn.

WASHINGTON - The nearly 100-year-old Thames River Bridge between New London and Groton, Conn. will undergo a $76 million replacement of its aging bascule lift span under a construction contract between Amtrak and Cianbro Corporation of Pittsfield, Maine, the parties announced today.

The construction project will take two years to complete and is the largest single capital improvement Amtrak will make to the Northeast Corridor during this time. Work on the project begins this month on the installation of seven new underwater communications and signal submarine cables.

In the most dramatic phase of the construction project to occur over 12 days during the fall of 2007, the bascule lift or movable center portion of the bridge will be removed, a 188-foot long, 35-foot wide, and 1,250 ton vertical lift will be floated into place on barges from Long Island Sound and attached to the bridge. This will result in a four-day outage of this section of the railroad, during which Amtrak plans to establish a "bus bridge" in Connecticut connecting passengers to trains in the direction of New York and Boston (details will be released in 2007).

Constructed in 1919, the Thames River Bridge is located between New London and Groton, Conn. The bridge lift is currently operated by machinery parts that have reached the end of their lifespan. The project is the first of three major movable bridge replacements (Thames River, Niantic and Miamacock) in Connecticut planned over the next 10 years. Virtually all work will be done while the railroad continues to operate, with minimal interruptions during the multi-year job.

Project Details

Lasting until early 2008, the Thames River Bridge project will include the fabrication and erection of two lift towers and a lift span, re-location of the bridge tender's control house, the installation of new machinery, electrical systems and underwater communications and signal cable. The project also calls for modification of the piers and the marine fender system that protects the piers from marine traffic.

"The aged drawbridge will be replaced by a more efficient vertical lift bridge that rises between two towers," said Peter Finch, Amtrak project engineer. "Once that is complete, rail passengers will be able to depend on a reliably operating lift span for the better part of this century."

Amtrak's Bridge & Building department will assist Cianbro ("CHIN-bro") Corporation with the relocation of the bridge tender's control house, which contains the electrical controls, machinery and back-up engine generator to operate the bridge. The new lift span, constructed by Cianbro, will have new track and walkways. Amtrak will assist Cianbro with the installation of new timber ties and tie spacers and Amtrak crews will install the running rails, guard rails joint bars and tie plates.

Amtrak electrical crews will extend existing power and control cables and monitor the installation of the new power control system, replace the navigation lights on the bridge and install lighting on the new pier fenders. New signal system cables and telephone service to the control house will also be installed.

Operational Impacts

During the course of the project, the impact to rail service will be minimal, with no major outages except when the bridge span is changed out. The final phase will take place in late 2007, when a four-day shutdown of the railroad will occur.

The project's effect on maritime traffic will also be minimal, with the work schedule being coordinated with the boating community, submarine base and Coast Guard. Once installed, the new lift span is expected to improve the reliability of both rail and marine traffic by minimizing bridge mechanical problems.

The Thames River Bridge project is part of a comprehensive infrastructure program in the Northeast. Over the past three years, considerable progress has been made including the installation of 439,000 new concrete ties, 188,000 wood ties, and 225 rail miles of continuous welded rail. Amtrak crews have also undercut 80 miles of track, installed 398 switches, retimbered 65 bridges and renewed 243 miles of electric catenary hardware. Earlier this year, Amtrak Engineering began the Rhode Island Freight Rail Improvement project and, in 2006 will begin the construction of a new interlocking in Niantic, CT.

[NickG]

From the New London, CT Day, 1/12/06:

Amtrak Poised To Begin Drawbridge Replacement

Amtrak will begin the long-anticipated replacement of the nearly 100-year-old Thames River railroad drawbridge this month.

For the full story and a very nice artist's rendering of the new bridge, go here.

[BillMagee]

From ENR.com (Engineering News-Record), 1/11/06:

Construction began Jan. 2 on a $76-million replacement for an 87-year-old Amtrak bridge spanning the Thames River in New London, Conn. Under a contract awarded in October, Cianbro Corp., Pittsfield, Maine, will replace the bridge's bascule section with a new lift span, Amtrak Acting President and CEO David Hughes told reporters in a Jan. 11 telephone conference call. HNTB is the design firm for the project.

The full story is HERE.

[Sloan]

http://www.theday.co...aa-67cebb7c649c

[KevinKorell]

Obviously the project has slipped a lot. The closure was originally supposed to happen this fall, during the slower period in October or early November. And it looks like the plan to cancel all rail service between New York and Boston, with no alternate service, will still take place, although it appears that it could be for longer than a four-day period.

[steve4031]

Obviously the project has slipped a lot. The closure was originally supposed to happen this fall, during the slower period in October or early November.

And it looks like the plan to cancel all rail service between New York and Boston, with no alternate service, will still take place, although it appears that it could be for longer than a four-day period.

Exactly when would this closure take place? MLK weekend when I was hoping to rdie the Acela to Boston to get AGR and sample the blueberry pancakes in first class? Just my luck. LOL

[Sloan]

Shore Line East to the rescue!

http://www.theday.co...cc-a0b520daee8e

[KevinKorell]

Really, the solution should be for CSX to allow a few Amtrak trains to use to old Inland routing. When the Shore Line was being electrified in advance of Acela Express and improved Regional service, some trains took the Inland Route via Hartford and Springfield and into Boston via Worcester. It would just mean a short time when they go back to the old engine changes in New Haven. It would also mean adding about one hour to the schedule. But both are still better then either bustitutions or no service at all. Another reason why Massachusetts needs to kick CSX off the Boston-Springfield line.

[ICGsteve]

Really, the solution should be for CSX to allow a few Amtrak trains to use to old Inland routing.

Far be it for me to defend CSX considering that I loathe them, but do we know that CSX would say no if asked? It could be that Amtrak is not interested on a cost basis. Longer trip times mean more cost, and such an effort would take loads of management time.

Edited by ICGsteve, 24 November 2007 - 07:44 PM.