Following the July 2025 contract announcement, the Skanska and FlatironDragados joint venture formally signed the construction agreement with VPRA, with Skanska booking its share of the deal valued at USD 658 million in its Q2 2025 order log. A related headline confirmed the signing: “Skanska JV, VPRA Sign Contract to Build Long Bridge North in Washington, D.C.” The broader project scope also came into sharper focus, with Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson and HNTB confirmed as additional contractors on the North Package, alongside subcontractors Genesis Structures, iDesign Engineering, MRCE, and TB&A.

Rail Partners Brace for Five Years of Disruption

With full construction ramping up on the North Package, VPRA confirmed that dedicated work windows commenced on January 12, 2026, and will run continuously until project completion in 2030, with schedule changes designed to protect peak commuter hours for VRE and Amtrak while CSX rescheduled its freight traffic to accommodate the construction timetable. Officials noted that once the new bridges open, passenger trains will no longer share tracks with freight trains crossing the Potomac, enabling VPRA to double VRE capacity and introduce weekend and nighttime services for the first time. These capacity and reliability improvements form part of a wider wave of rail infrastructure upgrades across the northeastern United States, including the MBTA’s North Station Draw One Bridge replacement project, where a US$1 billion Skanska-led design-build contract is advancing efforts to eliminate a long-standing commuter rail bottleneck and increase throughput across Boston’s northern rail network.

Project Overview

• Project Name: Long Bridge North Project (part of the Long Bridge Project)
• Location: East Potomac Park to L’Enfant Interlocking, Washington, D.C.
• Developer/Owner: Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA)
• Total Cost/Value: USD 1 billion (North Package); USD 2.3 billion overall Long Bridge Program
• Scale/Capacity: Approximately 1 mile (1.6 km); four-track corridor replacing existing two-track system; five new rail bridges and two pedestrian/bicycle bridges across the full program
• Construction Start: July 2025 (major works from January 2026)
• Expected Completion: Q4 2030
• Funding/Financing: Federal investment of approximately USD 750 million via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; balance from VPRA and state sources
• Current Status: Under construction; daytime work windows active since January 12, 2026
• Key Milestone: Formal contract signing completed; Skanska booked USD 658 million in Q2 2025 order bookings; South Package design-build team also appointed in January 2025

Project Team

• Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) — Project Owner and Programme Authority
• Skanska USA Civil — Lead Construction Contractor (North Package JV)
• FlatironDragados — Construction Contractor (North Package JV)
• Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson — Contractor, North Package
• HNTB — Contractor, North Package
• Genesis Structures — Subcontractor, North Package
• iDesign Engineering — Subcontractor, North Package
• MRCE — Subcontractor, North Package
• TB&A — Subcontractor, North Package
• Long Bridge Rail Partners JV (Trumbull Corporation, PJ Dick, Lindy, Fay, S&B Construction, Wagman Heavy Civil) — Design-Build Contractor, South Package
• STV — Lead Designer, South Package
• Dewberry — Sub-Designer, South Package
• CSX Transportation (CSXT) — Freight Rail Operator and Existing Bridge Owner
• Amtrak — Passenger Rail Operator
• Virginia Railway Express (VRE) — Commuter Rail Operator
• Norfolk Southern Railway — Rail Operator (corridor stakeholder)
• U.S. Department of Transportation — Federal Funder

Reported 7th July 2025: 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.

Read also: New Lindsay C. Warren Bridge: Skanska to rebuild bridge in North Carolina after $450m contract award

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