Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge

Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge
A southbound Acela Express crosses the bridge in 2008. The piers of the predecessor bridge are visible on the right.
Coordinates39°33′15.37″N 76°5′10.50″W / 39.5542694°N 76.0862500°W / 39.5542694; -76.0862500
CarriesAmtrak Northeast Corridor rail line
CrossesSusquehanna River
LocaleHavre de Grace and Perryville, Maryland, United States
Official nameSusquehanna River Movable Bridge
OwnerAmtrak
Characteristics
DesignHowe deck truss
MaterialSteel
Total length4,153.8 ft (1,266.1 m)
No. of spans17 fixed spans, 1 swing span
Clearance below
  • 52 ft (15.8 m) closed
  • 127 ft (38.7 m) open
Rail characteristics
No. of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
History
Constructed byPennsylvania Steel Company and American Bridge Company
OpenedNovember 26, 1866
Rebuilt
  • 1904–May 29, 1906
  • 2025–2036
Statistics
Daily trafficUp to 114 daily passenger and freight trains
Location

The Amtrak Susquehanna River Bridge is a deck truss bridge that carries the Northeast Corridor rail line across the Susquehanna River between Havre de Grace and Perryville, Maryland, United States. Both the bridge and the Northeast Corridor are owned by Amtrak. The 4,153-foot-long (1,266 m) two-track bridge has 17 fixed spans and one swing span across the river's navigation channel. It carries up to 114 daily passenger and freight trains.

The first bridge at the site was opened in 1866 by the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, replacing a train ferry service in use since 1837. The Pennsylvania Railroad opened the current bridge in 1906; the older bridge was reused as a road bridge from 1909 to 1940 and demolished in 1942–43. Several rounds of repairs and rehabilitation took place from the 1960s to the 2000s. Construction of a pair of two-track replacement bridges is expected to begin in 2025 and continue through 2036.