The California High-Speed Rail Authority has completed four additional structures in Kings and Tulare counties. Along the first 119 miles of construction in the Central Valley, this brings the total number of completed structures to 66.
The structures were completed in 2026 and form part of the high-speed rail programme between Merced and Bakersfield. The latest works include grade separations and viaducts that will allow future high-speed trains to cross roads, waterways and existing railway infrastructure.
The four structures are the State Route 43 Curved Bridge, Cross Creek Viaduct, Tule River Viaduct and Avenue 136 Underpass.
The State Route 43 Curved Bridge, north of Corcoran in Kings County, is 660 feet (201 metres) long and 45 feet (14 metres) wide. It reaches 60 feet (18 metres) at its highest point and will carry road traffic over the future high-speed rail tracks.
The structure contains more than 1.5 million pounds (684,000kg) of steel and more than 4,200 cubic yards (3,211 cubic metres) of concrete.
The Cross Creek Viaduct, located west of State Route 43, extends for more than 2,500 feet (762 metres). It will carry high-speed trains over the waterway and incorporates nearly 11,500 cubic yards (8,791 cubic metres) of concrete and more than 7.7 million pounds (3.5 million kg) of steel.
The viaduct includes 222 California Wide Flange girders manufactured in Hanford by the Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture, the contractor for Construction Package 2-3.
In Tulare County, the Tule River Viaduct extends for 3,573 feet (1,089 metres). The structure will carry future high-speed trains over State Route 43, the Tule River and existing freight railway tracks.
It incorporates 38 tub girders, more than 23.2 million pounds (10.5 million kg) of steel and 264 California Wide Flange girders manufactured by Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture.
The Avenue 136 Underpass, south of the Tule River Viaduct, is 55 feet (17 metres) long. It will carry the future high-speed rail line over two-way road traffic and contains approximately 510,000 pounds (231,000kg) of reinforcing steel and 1,470 cubic yards (1,124 cubic metres) of concrete.
Ed Fenn, Chief of Construction for the Authority said:This summer has been one of progress. Together, these structures will provide an estimated $466 million in safety benefits over the next 30 years. Completion of these structures, whether large or small, takes ingenuity and skill, and we’re thankful for the trades workers making this happen on the ground.
Nearly 90 miles (145km) of guideway has now been completed, alongside the 66 completed structures. A further 30 structures are under construction across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
The latest structures are also expected to deliver safety benefits by separating road traffic from the future railway. The Authority estimates that the Kings County grade separations will provide 137 million USD in public safety benefits over 30 years and prevent around 670 crashes. In Tulare County, the corresponding figures are 329 million USD and approximately 1,604 prevented crashes.
