Amtrak, the US National Railroad Company, has revealed that a Clark Construction/Stacy and Witbeck Joint Venture will be undertaking their first of three major construction projects for the $6 billion Frederick Douglass Tunnel program in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The construction-manager at-risk contract covers the two-mile southern approach of the planned tunnel, which is expected to cost more than $1 billion. 

The Frederick Douglass tunnel is a $6 billion project to replace the 150-year-old B&P (Baltimore and Potomac) tunnel, with the Southern Approach construction package (Package B) covering the new West Baltimore MARC station, bridge replacement, and tunnel construction from south of the station to north of the new tunnel south portal.

This will help to speed up traffic for both freight and passengers on the Northeast corridor. 

The majority of traffic from the B&P Tunnel will be diverted to the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel, which will be built to the northwest of the present tunnel. 

Twin single-track, high-capacity tubes will be installed there, allowing electric Amtrak and MARC trains to operate at speeds up to 100 mph. Currently, trains can, in certain portions of the tunnel, travel at 30 mph due to the steep incline and tight turns. 

Work for the project's Southern Approach portion entails the construction of a new MARC station in Baltimore that is ADA compliant and building the southern approach from the West Baltimore station area to the new Frederick Douglass tunnel South entrance and continuing to the north. Additionally, the project includes the replacement of several below-grade railroad bridges, the Edmondson Avenue and W. Lafayette Avenue bridges, and the relocation or realigning of various utilities. 

The announcement comes after a 1-year procurement process that started in June 2022. 

Capital Delivery Laura Mason, Amteak Executive Vice President, said, "This award represents the culmination of years of hard work to deliver significant long-term improvements right in the heart of a vital segment of the Northeast corridor."

The project's entire $6 billion investment will come from Federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Amtrak and the State of Maryland contributions. 

The Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said, "The Frederick Douglass Tunnel is a critical infrastructure project that will improve mobility and access for riders across the region." He further added, "Improvements to the West Baltimore MARC station are key to the transforming MARC Train from commuter rail to regional rail."

Two separate contracts have been awarded to small business enterprises, including K.K. Adams and Delaware Cornerstone Builders, to complete the supplemental pre-construction activities ahead of the significant project construction.  

There are two significant construction contracts available presently.

• Construction of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel is currently through procurement, and a decision is anticipated later this year.
• The tunnel's track, systems, and ventilation facilities make up the tunnel's fit-out. Although future procurement information has not yet been disclosed, the award is projected to occur in 2025 or 2026

Amtrak is also progressing with the design, site acquisitions and other preliminary work for smaller construction projects linked to the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program. 

This last summer, Amtrak's Infrastructure Maintenance and Construction Service team made track drainage improvements, installed new rail, and replaced deteriorating wooden ties with new concrete ones. The plan is that these and other actions will lessen the impact of future construction on Amtrak day to day operations.