ACE to dedicate Los Angeles-area grade separation

The Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority (ACE) plans to hold a dedication ceremony tomorrow in El Monte, Calif., to mark the completion of the Baldwin Avenue grade separation.

The $76.7 million project involved the construction of a four-lane roadway underpass and a two-track rail bridge. Located on the transcontinental Alameda Corridor-East trade corridor, the grade separation is used daily by 18 freight trains. By 2025, train traffic is projected to increase to 40, or to 59 if the route is double-tracked by Union Pacific Railroad.

The project eliminates the potential for train-vehicle collisions and emergency responder delays, lowers emissions, and reduces locomotive horn and crossing gate noise, ACE officials said in a ceremony announcement. Over the past 10 years, two crossing collisions occurred at the intersection.

Dignitaries invited to the ceremony include U.S. Reps. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.), California Transportation Commissioner Fran Inman, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Deputy Chief Executive Officer Lindy Lee, El Monte Councilwoman Norma Macias and El Monte Mayor Andre Quintero.