By Lynda Myer
In order to advancing the Baltimore’s Howard Street Tunnel Clearance Program, a Skanska and Fay, S&B USA Construction joint venture have been selected by CSX Transportation (CSXT).
While modernization of the 125-year-old tunnel for housing double-stacked trains, is a content of this project, it also includes lowering the track and enlarging the 2.75km-long tunnel to increase the height from 5.8m to 6.4m, as well as improving drainage.
The rail line will remain open while the work is carried out.
As a challenge for the modernization program, the combination of three methods used in the original tunnel construction (concrete box, cut and cover, and mining) was implemented. The Skanska-Fay JV’s approach will center on optimizing track profiles and alignments within the existing structure, to achieve the prescribed horizontal and vertical clearances.
The scheduled date for completion of this project is June 2027, whereas Hatch is due to serve as the lead design engineer.
Linking major urban centers along the east coast from Florida to New England, the Howard Street Tunnel is in the heart of Baltimore City, along CSXT’s I-95 rail corridor and plays a pivotal role in CSXT’s rail network. Additionally, connection of the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal Intermodal Container Transfer Facility to key consumer markets in the mid-west is up to this tunnel.
According to Peter MacKenna, president and CEO of S&B USA Construction (parent company of Fay): “Having worked on this corridor with CSXT on several other projects, we know the importance in enabling the passage of double-stacked trains with the completion of this project while maintaining rail traffic during the construction of this project.”
