Two grade separation projects advance in L.A. area

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) recently approved a $48 million allocation to the Alameda Corridor East Construction Authority (ACE) for the Puente Avenue grade separation project in Industry, Calif. The funds are part of $334 million the CTC allocated last week for 53 transportation projects in the state.

The grade separation involves the construction of a roadway underpass for Puente Avenue, a bridge for Valley Boulevard and a double-track bridge for Union Pacific Railroad trains. The $99 million project also includes a loop connector road west of Puente Avenue and south of Valley Boulevard to re-establish the connection between the two roads, and the elimination of a grade crossing at Puente Avenue that averages 31,110 vehicles and 20 trains per day.

ACE expects to award a contract for the grade separation in fall, with construction starting in late 2014.

The project will increase freight velocity by eliminating a bottleneck at the crossing and eliminate the risk of collisions between vehicles and trains, CTC officials said in a funding notice.

Meanwhile, ACE has issued a request for proposals seeking a consultant to provide construction management services for the Fullerton Road grade separation project in Industry. Proposals are due by May 6.

The $142.9 million project calls for lowering Fullerton Road under UP tracks, constructing a six-lane underpass and building a four-track rail bridge. Preliminary engineering and design work is under way.