PHOTO RELEASE: Avenue 10 Overpass Opens in Madera County

Sep 8 2020 | Madera County

Today, the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) announced the opening of the Avenue 10 overpass in Madera County – the second high-speed rail grade separation to open in the last month. Grade separations are realigned roadways designed to eliminate hazards, improve safety and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions caused by idling vehicles. The Avenue 10 overpass will allow traffic to cross over the future high-speed rail tracks.

“Safety is a top priority at the Authority. Grade separations ensure the safety of the community members who reside in proximity of the future high-speed rail system,” said Garth Fernandez, interim Central Valley Regional Director.

The Avenue 10 overpass is located between State Route 99 and Road 32 and spans more than 116 feet long, 35 feet wide and reaches 42 feet at its highest point.

“With the completion of one project, others continue to open up and our crews get to work. That’s the beauty of working in the Central Valley and on high-speed rail,” said Chuck Riojas, executive director of the Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings Building Trades Council. “There’s a lot of job satisfaction when you get to see the job you’ve worked on complete.”

Currently, more than 4,300 construction jobs have been created across 119 miles worth of construction. Nearly 3,000 of those jobs are filled by Central Valley residents.

Several Central Valley small businesses took part in constructing the new grade separation 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 32-mile construction area that stretches from Avenue 19 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County. There are currently 32 active construction sites from Madera to Kern counties, with nearly 500 certified small businesses working to build the Central Valley segment.