November 2018 Edition

From above, you can see all the girders recently set over the northern section of the trench. Meanwhile, workers continue excavating the crossing under State Route 180 (SR 180) outside of downtown Fresno. As they dig down five feet, they add to the retaining wall with a rebar mesh and sprayed concrete (also known as shotcrete). Once they reach the bottom of the trench, they’ll construct a concrete box that will carry the trains under SR 180, a rail spur and the Dry Creek Canal.

At the Cedar Viaduct, construction crews continue extending the structure across State Route 99 (SR 99) south of Fresno. Columns for several support piers can be seen rising on both sides of the highway, while crews have also completed temporary shoring and excavation of the pile caps within the SR 99 median. The viaduct will eventually be connected to the smaller Muscat Viaduct a little further to the south. One of the largest structures on Construction Package 1, the Cedar Viaduct will be about three-quarters of a mile long when it’s complete.

At the northern end of Construction Package 1, a crane sets the remaining concrete girders for the overcrossing at Road 27 in Madera County. In late August and September, four massive girders were placed across the railroad tracks during night time closures coordinated with the BNSF railroad. These concrete beams, each one more than eight feet tall, 150 feet in length, and weighing more than 250,000 pounds, are some of the largest ever used in California. A total of 28 girders will create the foundation for the crossing superstructure, with the deck tentatively scheduled to be poured early next year. After some additional utility relocation, embankment work can also begin.

Wing walls extending off the high-speed rail overpass at Avenue 12 in Madera County have been poured. Next, steel rebar will be placed and tied in preparation for a concrete deck pour. The realignment of the busy roadway with two separate bridges will take traffic over the future high-speed rail line and the BNSF freight tracks a little further east.

At the Avenue 11 Grade Crossing, embankment and conduits for future utilities are being completed off the bridge. On the bridge, crews are currently constructing traffic barriers along the sides of the deck. Next, paving and guardrail subcontractors will mobilize to complete the overpass. This crossing, east of Road 30 ½, will take traffic over the high-speed train alignment in Madera County.

The bridge deck and the wing walls extending off the Avenue 8 overcrossing in Madera County have been poured and crews will next pour the traffic barrier along the sides of the structure. The block retaining walls have been completed on either side of the abutments and fill dirt placed to finish the slope leading up to the bridge. Utility conduit is also being installed for future utilities.

At the southern end of Construction Package 1, girders have been set across the BNSF freight line to continue construction of the American Avenue overcrossing. Design-builder Tutor-Perini/Zachry/Parsons and the Authority are coordinating with BNSF on progressing design that will allow further construction to proceed.

At the overcrossing for a realigned Kansas Avenue, west of State Route 43 in Kings County, crews are excavating what will be the passageway for high-speed trains. Abutments for the bridge have already been constructed and next concrete and rebar piers will be built that will support the bridge deck.

A mile to the north of Kansas Avenue at the overcrossing for Kent Avenue, excavation for the high-speed train passageway has been completed. Ironworkers are now tying rebar for the bridge deck’s support piers.