WASHINGTON (AP) — Maryland’s two U.S. senators say the state will receive $22 million in federal stimulus funding to begin work on replacing a rail bridge over the Susquehanna River.

Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin say replacing the 105-year-old bridge on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor is needed so the line can handle high-speed passenger trains. The senators say the bridge requires constant maintenance because of its age and is a serious bottleneck for passenger trains. About 100 Amtrak and MARC passenger trains cross the bridge daily.

The two Democrats noted the funds are part of $745 million that the U.S. Department of Transportation redirected toward Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor after Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott rejected $2.4 billion in federal money for a high-speed rail project in his state.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)