ALBANY, NY — Governor Kathy Hochul announces the award of $215.1 million in federal funding to support the replacement of the aging Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge spanning the Hudson River between the cities of Albany and Rensselaer, New York. The funding was provided under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program and will facilitate the ongoing project to replace the Civil War-era structure with a modern bridge that will improve passenger and freight rail service throughout the Empire Corridor and also provide a Hudson River crossing for pedestrians and cyclists. The federal grant was part of nearly $2.5 billion recently awarded by the FRA.
The replacement of the Livingston Avenue Bridge is a critical link for passenger rail service along the Empire Corridor. In addition to the federal grant, funding for the $634.8 million project is also being provided from the New York State Department of Transportation’s historic, $33 billion, five-year capital plan. Site preparation work began during the summer, and major construction of the new structure is expected to begin in early 2025.
The project will construct a seven-span, lift-type bridge meeting modern standards for height, width, and speeds. It will also be wider and designed to carry heavier freight train loads, as well as two passenger trains at the same time. The structure will also be able to handle taller rail cars, allowing for more freight, and will more reliably accommodate marine traffic on the Hudson River.
The original structure over the Hudson River opened in 1865, and its original piles were used in the construction of the current Livingston Avenue Bridge in 1901. The bridge, owned by CSX and leased to Amtrak, is nearing the end of its serviceable life and does not meet current standards related to load, speed, and height clearance. This forces passenger and freight trains operating over the bridge to abide by weight and speed restrictions, as well as limits the types of carriages and freight that can traverse the span. As a result, the two-track bridge can be used only by one train at a time at maximum speeds of 15 mph, contributing to delays in the movement of freight and passengers throughout New York State.
The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing structure before shifting train traffic to the new bridge upon its completion, which is expected sometime in 2028. The current Livingston Avenue Bridge will remain in use until that time, thus limiting disruptions before being removed.
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“The Livingston Avenue Bridge is a relic of the 19th century that has been causing hardships for rail passengers in New York State for far too long," said Marie Therese Dominguez, New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner. "I am grateful to all our federal partners for their assistance and support of this transformational project that will improve passenger and freight rail service throughout the corridor and will also provide new recreational opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists enjoying the beauty of the Capital Region.”
