Fresno River Viaduct

The Fresno River Viaduct is a bridge to carry California High-Speed Rail over Route 145, the Fresno River, and Raymond Road in Madera County, California.[1] The bridge was completed in 2018[2] It is the first permanent structure constructed as part of California High-Speed Rail.[3] The bridge site is located just east of the city limits of Madera, California,[3] approximately 20 miles northwest of the planned Fresno high-speed rail station, and approximately 10 miles southeast of the planned Chowchilla Wye.[4] Because the site is downstream of the John Franchi Diversion Dam, the riverbed is normally dry unless heavy rains cause the dam to overtop.[5][6] The bridge will be 1600 feet long[1] and 25 feet high,[3] and will run parallel to the BNSF Railway bridge over the Fresno River.[7]

The Fresno River Viaduct near completion in February 2017
Aerial view of the viaduct near completion in August 2017

Construction

Construction began in June 2015.[1] Initial work consisted of assembling rebar cages for the bridge columns and pouring concrete.[7] In August 2015, temporary cofferdams were erected to excavate sand to construct the bridge's structural supports.[8] By the end of October 2015, the work on the piles had ended and the rebar skeletons of the 16 columns had been erected.[9]

In late March 2016, concrete began to be poured for the bridge's superstructure.[10] In October 2016, the final span of the bridge was being constructed and the rest of the deck was complete, with preparations commencing for installation of the deck's barrier wall.[11]

A year later, in September 2017, the bridge's structure was largely complete, although track and electrical work remained for a future phase of construction.[12]

  • Construction in January 2016. The BNSF Railway bridge is visible in the background.
    Construction in January 2016. The BNSF Railway bridge is visible in the background.
  • Construction in September 2016. Falsework is in place for the pouring of concrete.
    Construction in September 2016. Falsework is in place for the pouring of concrete.
  • Construction in November 2016. The riverbed is near the top of the image, and CA 145 is in the foreground.
    Construction in November 2016. The riverbed is near the top of the image, and CA 145 is in the foreground.

References
  1. Sheehan, Tim (2015-06-16). "Heavy equipment finally moving on California high-speed rail construction". Fresno Bee. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  2. Jarvis, Scott. "2018: A year of progress and change for California's high-speed rail project". Global Railway Review. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. Yurong, Dale (2015-06-16). "We're seeing our first signs of construction for the California High Speed Rail project". ABC30 Fresno. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  4. "Merced to Fresno Project Section". California High-Speed Rail. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  5. "Final Environmental Impact Report/Statement, Merced to Fresno: Hydrology and Water Resources" (PDF). California High-Speed Rail Authority. April 2012. pp. 11, 20. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  6. "Foxglove Shopping Center Draft EIR: Hydrology and Water Quality" (PDF). City of Madera. May 2011. p. 2. Retrieved 2015-11-01.
  7. "First Concrete Poured for High-Speed Rail". SCV News. 2015-06-27. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  8. "High-Speed Rail: Cofferdams Installed in Fresno". SCV News. 2015-08-28. Retrieved 2015-10-30.
  9. Sheehan, Tim (2015-10-30). "High speed rail: Crews prepare next step to building viaduct over Fresno River". Fresno Bee. Retrieved 2015-10-31.
  10. Lurie, George (2016-04-21). "Rail projects begin to alter Valley landscape, impact local businesses". The Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
  11. "October 2016 Construction Update" (PDF). California High-Speed Rail Authority. October 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
  12. "September 2017 Construction Update" (PDF). California High-Speed Rail Authority. September 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-19.

36.983069°N 120.029177°W / 36.983069; -120.029177

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