Construction Begins on Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge Replacement

A new seven-span, lift-type bridge meeting modern standards for height, width and speeds will be constructed just south of the existing bridge, according to the Office of New York Governor Kathy Hochul. 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 project will also create a separated shared-use path that will provide a much-needed crossing over the Hudson River for pedestrians and cyclists, “providing easy connections to the Albany Skyway, the Empire State Trail, the future Rensselaer Riverwalk—a portion of which is being constructed as part of this project—and other area attractions.” Replacement of the bridge is being funded as part of the $33 billion, five-year New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Capital Plan.

Construction and development firm Skanska has been selected to carry out the bridge replacement, which is expected to reach final completion in summer 2028.

According to Skanska, the scope of the design-build project includes the replacement of the Livingston Avenue Bridge, as well as the addition of a movable two-track vertical lift railroad bridge over the Hudson River. Additionally, the project includes the construction of control and machinery rooms; the installation of new railroad signals; the implementation of electrical infrastructure; and bridge and navigation lighting, realignment and improvements to the WYE tracks east of the bridge in Rensselaer. Rail bridges over Water and Centre Street will also be reconfigured and rehabilitated.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to replace and modernize the Livingston Avenue Bridge,” said Michael Viggiano, Executive Vice President of Skanska’s East Coast civil operations. “These critical infrastructure improvements are greatly needed across the Northeast and beyond. They are of paramount importance to boost the operational efficiency of this vital railway link and creating a more seamless passenger experience.

The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing structure before shifting train traffic to the new bridge upon its completion. The current Livingston Avenue Bridge will remain in use until that time, thus limiting disruptions before being removed.

In addition to funding from the capital plan, NYSDOT says it also continues to seek federal competitive grant funding for the Livingston Avenue Bridge project under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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; forcing passenger and freight trains operating over the bridge to abide by weight and speed restrictions. This also 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 current service across the bridge includes 12 Amtrak passenger trains and roughly two to six freight trains (CPKC and CSX) daily. The bridge is a critical link for passenger rail service—as no detour is available without creating substantial delays, upwards of 2.5 hours, according to the governor’s office.

“At long last, the time has finally come to replace the Livingston Avenue Bridge,” said NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “This new structure will provide a safer, more resilient and more efficient crossing of the Hudson River for passenger and freight trains, which will improve service and reduce delays throughout the corridor. The bridge will also tie the communities along the Hudson River closer together and promote recreation and tourism by providing a direct pedestrian and bicyclist connection between the Albany-Rensselaer Station and the Albany Skyway and Empire State Trail.”

Additionally, Gov. Hochul also announced a $10 million award to demolish the Central Warehouse, a blighted building in Downtown Albany, pieces of which have fallen onto nearby rail tracks “disrupting Amtrak service for thousands of New Yorkers.”

The $10 million award through the eighth round of the Restore New York Communities Initiative will be allocated to the County of Albany to facilitate the safe demolition of the building, allowing the property to be developed in a way that “benefits the community and boosts the economy,” according to the governor’s office. Restore New York supports municipal revitalization efforts across the state, “helping to remove blight, reinvigorate downtowns, and generate economic opportunity in communities statewide.” The program, administered by Empire State Development, is designed to “help local governments revitalize their communities and encourage commercial investment, improve the local housing stock, put properties back on the tax rolls and increase the local tax base.” The remainder of the round eight awards will be announced in the coming days.