Alameda Corridor authority completes $118 million grade separation

Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority (ACE) earlier this month marked the opening of a six-lane underpass at a once congested railroad crossing in Industry, Calif.

Located on the high-volume transcontinental Alameda Corridor-East rail corridor, the Nogales Street crossing project is part of the authority's grade-separation program.

The $118 million project eliminates the potential for train-vehicle collisions, delays for emergency responders and train horn noise. It also will reduce emissions, said ACE Chairman Jack Hadjinian in a press release.

In the decade prior to construction beginning in 2014, the crossing was the site of 10 crossing collisions. The roadway carried more than 40,000 vehicles and was blocked by 49 trains per day. By 2025, daily rail traffic at the crossing is projected to increase to 91 trains.

The project was paid for with funding from the California state transportation bond, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the federal government and contributions from the city of Industry and Union Pacific Railroad.

The ACE corridor carries about 60 percent of the containers that arrive at the San Pedro Bay ports.

"With international trade flourishing and rail projects being advanced at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, local communities will see a steady increase in freight trains along the rail mainlines in Los Angeles County," said L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis. "The ACE grade separations are integral to Los Angeles County's strategy to enhance safety, reduce local congestion and improve the efficiency of goods movement throughout the region."