The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) has awarded Skanska, Flatiron, and Dragados joint venture a $1 billion construction contract for the Long Bridge North Project. The project’s construction will start this July, and the work should be finished by the fourth quarter of 2030.
The large-scale infrastructure project will deliver a new one-mile rail connection between East Potomac Park and the L’Enfant Interlocking in Washington, D.C. The first stage of an overall program to modernize and expand rail capacity between Washington, D.C. and Virginia—one of the most heavily trafficked passenger and freight routes on the East Coast.
The Long Bridge North Project is an integral part of the total 1.8-mile Long Bridge project, which will ultimately replace the current two-track with a new four-track corridor. The eastern pair of tracks will still support the CSX freight operations, and the new western tracks will primarily host passenger rail services like Amtrak Virginia, Amtrak long-distance trains, and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE).
Michael Viggiano, executive vice president of Skanska USA Civil, termed the project “shovel ready” with the money, planning, and approvals already in place. “This highly complex and critical piece of infrastructure will significantly improve freight and passenger rail service for the Capital Region,” he said.
Jim Schneiderman, FlatironDragados’ executive vice president, also said that the team worked closely with VPRA to maximize construction planning. “We have reduced construction risk and facilitated more schedule and cost certainty,” he said.
Skanska-FlatironDragados JV’s work
The contract of the Skanska-FlatironDragados alliance involves the substitution of four new tracks for the existing rail corridor from the south bank of the Potomac River, over East Potomac Park and the Washington Channel, to connect with the L’Enfant Interlocking.
When completed, the Long Bridge North Project will be critical in uniting local, regional, and national rail networks—reducing congestion and setting the stage for expanded passenger service during the coming decades.
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Contract for Long Bridge North Rail Project: Factsheet
Project Overview
Location: Washington, D.C. (East Potomac Park to L’Enfant Interlocking)
Owner: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA)
Contract Value: $1 billion
Timeline: July 2025 – Q4 2030
Contractor Joint Venture
Lead Partners: Skanska, Flatiron, and Dragados
Project Status: Shovel ready with funding, planning, and approvals in place
JV’s Scope of Work on Long Bridge North Project
Length: 1-mile new rail connection
Infrastructure: Replace existing corridor with four modern tracks
Route: South shore of Potomac River → East Potomac Park → Washington Channel → L’Enfant Interlocking
Track Configuration:
Eastern pair: CSX freight operations
Western pair: Passenger rail services (Amtrak Virginia, Amtrak long-distance, VRE)
Read also: NJ Transit Breaks Ground on Phase 2 of Raritan River Bridge Replacement
Contract for the Long Bridge North Project: Strategic Importance
Phase 1 of broader 1.8-mile Long Bridge modernization initiative
Replaces current two-track system with four-track corridor
Serves one of the busiest passenger and freight corridors on the East Coast
Critical link between local, regional, and national rail networks
Project Benefits
Vastly improved freight and passenger rail service in Capital Region
Reduced rail congestion between Washington, D.C. and Virginia
Foundation for expanded passenger service capacity
Enhanced connectivity for Virginia Railway Express, Amtrak services
Read also: Skanska Breaks Ground on $180M Expansion Project at Redmond Municipal Airport
