Contractors Making Progress on Howard Street Tunnel Project
The Howard Street Tunnel clearance project in Baltimore is nearing the halfway point, Trains.com reported on July 2. According to the report, contractors working on the project for CSX have lowered about 3,400 ft of the 8,700-ft tunnel.
CSX announced in February that the historic tunnel, originally opened in the late 1800s, officially closed for reconstruction as part of an initiative to modernize the structure and enable double-stack intermodal service along CSX’s I-95 Rail Corridor.
On Feb. 1, the project reached a significant milestone with the removal of rail spikes. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, the initiative aims to increase vertical clearance in the 125-year-old tunnel and address 22 additional obstructions along the corridor between Baltimore and Philadelphia, improving connectivity to key Midwest markets.
The Howard Street Tunnel upgrades will enhance intermodal rail service on CSX’s I-95 corridor while better connecting the Seagirt Marine Terminal Intermodal Container Transfer Facility at the Port of Baltimore with interior distribution hubs.
“It strengthens the Port of Baltimore’s competitiveness with other East Coast ports,” said Brandon Knapp, CSX senior director of Mid-Atlantic construction. “This project benefits CSX while also boosting the region’s economy.”
The tunnel reconstruction is part of a larger partnership involving CSX, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the state of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and other stakeholders. Once complete, it is expected to enhance operational efficiency, bolster the competitiveness of CSX-served markets, and deliver economic benefits to the region.
STV, in partnership with Michael Baker International, was contracted by CSX to serve as the program manager and construction manager for this major initiative. The project is a progressive design-build contract between CSX and the Skanska-Fay joint venture, according to Progressive Railroading.
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