California high-speed rail agency gears up for Fresno bridge demolition

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) next month plans to demolish the Tuolumne Street Bridge in downtown Fresno, Calif.

The demolition will make way for construction of a new, higher bridge that will accommodate the state's future high-speed rail line and allow for two-way traffic, agency officials said in a press release.

Beginning Jan. 4, CHSRA will close a portion of Tuolumne Street for 10 to 12 months to allow for work that will occur over Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

The work is being done by design-build contractor Tutor Perini/Zachry/Parsons as part of Construction Package 1, which is the first 29-mile stretch of rail between Madera and Fresno counties.

As part of continued progress on the high-speed rail program, several other construction projects in the Fresno area are slated to begin in early 2016, CHSRA officials said.