Alameda Corridor-East freight-rail trench to be dedicated

California state, federal and local municipal officials next week will dedicate the 1.4-mile San Gabriel freight-rail trench as part of the Alameda Corridor-East (ACE) project in eastern Los Angeles County.

The project involved construction of four new bridges spanning the 30-foot-deep freight railroad trench at Ramona Street, Mission Road, Del Mar Avenue and San Gabriel Boulevard; and new railroad bridges over two storm channels in San Gabriel, California.

The $293.7 million project is designed to allow emergency responders to get to calls more quickly on both sides of the tracks; eliminate crossing delays; improve safety for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians; eliminate locomotive horns and crossing bells; and reduce pollution from idling cars and trucks waiting for trains to pass.

The project also will help improve rail reliability for Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak, according to a press release issued by project officials.

Over four years of construction, the project required the excavation of more than 500,000 cubic yards of soil removed via 33,000 dump truck trips and the pouring of 6,500 truckloads of concrete to build the structures.

A dedication ceremony will be held Sept. 10.