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By James Bickerton
News Reporter
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The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), which is building a new high-speed railway in the Golden State that is eventually intended to link Los Angeles to San Francisco, has released six new photographs showing progress on the project.
Published on Thursday as part of a press release the images show the completed Hanford Viaduct, which will be the state’s largest high-speed rail structure, along with other completed bridges, viaducts and a grade separation in Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.
Overall the CHSRA said its project had created more than 21,000 construction jobs the majority of which had been “filled by Central Valley residents.”
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Hanford Viaduct
Completion of the more than one-mile-long Hanford Viaduct was celebrated on Thursday with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by local and state politicians.
The Hanford Viaduct is designed to take high-speed trains over State Route 198 and the San Joaquin Valley Railroad as part of the Kings/Tulare Station. Situated to the east of State Route 43 and Hanford, it was completed by Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture.
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In a statement, California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said: “The completion of the Hanford Viaduct marks a critical step forward in bringing high-speed rail to California.
“Under Governor Newsom’s leadership, the largest infrastructure in America, is generating thousands of construction jobs, creating small business opportunities and delivering lasting economic benefits to the region.”
King’s County District 3 Supervisor Doug Verboon added: “Kings County appreciates the completion of the Hanford Viaduct and the Houston Avenue grade separation. These structures improve safety and efficiency for the community and the upgraded infrastructure benefits all of Kings County.”
Other Completed Projects
In addition to the Hanford Viaduct, CHSRA said in its press release that five other structures built as part of the California high-speed rail project had been completed and provided photographs.
In Fresno County, the completed Conejo Viaduct, which spans over 2,200 feet, will allow high-speed trains to travel over Conejo Avenue and existing BNSF freight tracks. Situated in between Peach and Willow avenues, this took more than 4,000,000 pounds of steel and 34,000 cubic yards of concrete to complete, along with 248 pre-cast concrete girders.
Also in Fresno County, CHSRA provided a photograph of the finished Cole Slough Bridge that will take the high-speed line over the Cole Slough natural stream. The structure is more than 317 feet long and 40 feet wide and required 1,251,632 pounds of steel and 3,060 cubic yards of concrete to construct.
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To allow the Dutch John Cut waterway in Kings County to be crossed, the CHSRA oversaw the construction of Dutch John Cut Bridge to the east of the Kings County and Fresno lines. The bridge is 669 feet in length and over 40 feet in width and required 2,623,520 pounds of steel and 4,695 cubic yards of concrete to build.
South of the Hanford Viaduct, the completed Houston Avenue Grade Separation will allow traffic to pass over the future high-speed rail line. The separation, which measures 450 feet by 40 feet, is now open to the public.
In Tulare County, the completed Deer Creek Viaduct, which is more than 3,000 feet long and 43 feet wide, will take the high-speed rail line over Deer Creek. Its construction required 14,703,238 pounds of steel, 13,558 cubic yards of concrete and 264 pre-cast concrete girders.
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CHSRA said that overall, over 70 “major structures” have been completed as part of California high-speed rail with another 22 under construction in Fresno, Madera, Kings and Tulare counties.
In addition, over 90 miles of guideway, the physical infrastructure that guides and supports the train along its route, have been constructed.
High-Speed Rail Controversy
The California high-speed rail project is already significantly over budget and behind schedule leading some politicians to call for it to be scrapped entirely.
Before being approved by California voters in 2008, the line was originally estimated by the CHSRA to cost $45 billion and was expected to be completed by the end of 2020.
However, the CHSRA now puts the cost of the project’s phase one, linking San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, at $126.1 billion and doesn’t expect it to be completed until 2039, though the initial Merced-Bakersfield section should open in 2033.
On October 29, CHSRA Chief Executive Ian Choudri announced he would be resigning to focus on “important personal and family priorities” adding: “This has not been an easy decision, as leading the Authority has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding chapters of my professional life.”
Earlier this year, Choudri took a voluntary leave of absence after being arrested on suspicion of domestic battery, though charges were later dropped due to a lack of evidence.
In September, a report published by the Office of the Inspector General for High-Speed Rail, a state watchdog, said the CHSRA had spent $592,000 on travel expenses that were either not allowed under state regulation, impermissible under the contracts, or both.
Expenses paid included visits to nightclubs, an escape room, a Washington cigar lounge and a Denver sushi restaurant. In response, a CHSRA spokesperson previously told Newsweek: “We take these findings seriously. In response, the Authority will strengthen internal controls around consultant travel, implement more rigorous documentation and approval requirements, and recover any improper costs identified.”
According to Associated Press, the board of CHSRA began considering disciplinary action against Choudri, potentially including job termination, after the report was published.
New California Governor
On November 3, Democrat Xavier Becerra beat Republican Steve Hilton to replace Gavin Newsom as the next governor of California.
During the campaign, Hilton called for the California high-speed rail project to be scrapped and completed works turned into a “government incompetence national monument.”
Speaking in May, Becerra vowed to finish the project but said it must not fall further behind schedule or exceed its budget.
He said: “I'm going to scrap the current configuration, and I'm going to make sure we finish. But we've got to do it on budget and on time.”
Addressing Newsweek, the Becerra campaign spokesperson Jonathan Underland added: “Nearly 80 miles of guideway are complete. The bridges, viaducts, and overpasses are built. The infrastructure is in the ground, and the track is coming. Secretary Becerra is now focused on making sure nothing slows what comes next—cutting through every bottleneck, every broken approval chain, every delay that has held this project back.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.
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