PHOTO RELEASE: Overpasses Open to Traffic on Avenue 8 and Avenue 11 in Madera County

Jul 31 2019 | Madera County

Today, the California High-Speed Rail Authority and its design-build contractor Tutor-Perini/Zachry/Parsons (TPZP) opened two newly constructed overpasses on Avenue 8 and Avenue 11 in Madera County that allow traffic to travel over the high-speed rail system. This marks the first completed high-speed rail grade separations for Madera County.

“The completion of this overcrossing is a great step forward toward a positive working relationship with High-Speed Rail and Madera County,” said Brett Frazier, Madera County Supervisor. “We see the benefits of this and other projects in Madera County and are working closely with High-Speed Rail to collaborate and effect a mutually beneficial solution to any present and future construction jobs. This increased level of collaboration is essential to minimizing impacts to the residents of Madera County and the opening of all other roads impacted by construction.”

At Avenue 8, the overpass is located between State Route 99 and Road 33 and is over 110 feet long, 34 feet wide and reaches 44 feet at its highest point. The Avenue 11 overpass, between Road 31 and Road 32, is over 100 feet long, 34 feet wide and reaches 43 feet at its highest point.

“Today’s re-opening of Avenues 8 and 11 is a significant milestone for the project as we continue to work on and complete several more grade separations within the community of Madera,” said Diana Gomez, Central Valley Regional Director. “High-Speed Rail is committed to building and delivering the Central Valley system as quickly and safely as possible.”

Several small businesses took part in constructing the new grade separations including Becho, Inc., Landavazo Bros., Inc. Martinez Steel Corporation, Oliveira Fence, Inc., McCormick Biological, Inc., Avison Construction, Inc., Con-Fab California, Valverde Construction, Inc. and Safety Striping Service, Inc.

This project is part of Construction Package 1, the first 29-mile construction area that stretches from Avenue 17 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County. There are currently 21 active construction sites from Madera to Kern counties, with more than 300 certified small businesses working to build the Central Valley segment. To date, nearly 3,000 construction workers have been dispatched to the project.