This project will perform environmental analysis and preliminary engineering in support of replacing the 135-year-old through plate girder bridge over bartlett street at MP 9.21 on the CSX…

The City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire received a $460,000 Project Grant award from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program (CFDA 20.325) on May 1, 2025, with completion scheduled for January 31, 2027. This award funds environmental analysis and preliminary engineering services to support the replacement of a 135-year-old through plate girder bridge over Bartlett Street on the CSX Portsmouth Branch in Portsmouth, NH. The project will include construction of a new 286,000-pound-capacity undergrade bridge approximately 60 feet north of the existing structure, designed to improve safety for roadway travelers by providing industry-standard vertical and horizontal rail bridge clearances, clear sight lines, and reduced bridge strikes from over-height highway vehicles.

The deliverables under this award encompass three primary components: (1) project administration and management including a project management plan, capital cost estimate, and final performance report; (2) environmental review and documentation; and (3) preliminary engineering including a basis of design report, geotechnical report, preliminary engineering cost estimate, track configuration schematics, plans and cross-sections, and relevant U.S. Army Corps of Engineers correspondence. Additionally, the project will conduct environmental analysis and preliminary engineering for surface and safety improvements at four public grade crossings: three on the CSX Portsmouth Branch (Barberry Lane, Maplewood Avenue, and Green Street) and one on the CSX Newington Industrial Track (Market Street).

This project will perform environmental analysis and preliminary engineering in support of replacing the 135-year-old through plate girder bridge over bartlett street at MP 9.21 on the CSX portsmouth branch in the city of portsmouth, NH (formerly pan am railways bridge #55.19). The project will include a new 286K-capable undergrade (UG) bridge about 60 feet north of the existing bridge. The project will improve safety, benefiting roadway travelers by providing industry standard vertical and horizontal rail bridge clearances and clear sight lines as well as by reducing bridge strikes by over-height highway vehicles. The project will also perform environmental analysis and preliminary engineering for surface and safety improvements at four public grade crossings: three on the CSX portsmouth branch (barberry lane, maplewood avenue, and green street) and one crossing on the CSX newington industrial track (market street). Project tasks include project administration and management (deliverables: project management plan, capital cost estimate, final performance report), environmental review (deliverables: environmental documentation), and preliminary engineering (deliverables: basis of design report, geotech report, preliminary engineering cost estimate, track configuration schematices, pncd, USACE correspondence).