The California High-Speed Rail Authority has announced the completion of the Avenue 88 Grade Separation in Tulare County.

The overpass is the 57th structure completed in the Central Valley, the seventh opened to traffic in 2025, and the second in Tulare County.

The Avenue 88 Grade Separation is complete and open to traffic in Tulare County

© California High-Speed Rail Authority

Situated near State Route 43 (SR 43), the structure measures 485 feet in length and 32 feet 8 inches in width. It carries Avenue 88 over SR 43, the BNSF railway and the future high-speed rail alignment. The bridge incorporates 20 pre-cast concrete girders, between 59 and 141 feet long, which were manufactured by Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture in Hanford, California. Construction also required 528,689 pounds of steel and 2,109 cubic yards of concrete.

According to the Authority, the grade separation is expected to support improved access for agricultural vehicles, emergency services and regular traffic.

This opening follows the completion of the Tulare Street Grade Separation in downtown Fresno on 31 July. That project reconnected Chinatown with the city centre by taking Tulare Street more than 20 feet below the Union Pacific railway and the future high-speed rail line. The underpass provides a two-lane roadway with pedestrian access and cycle lanes, enhancing mobility and access for residents, businesses and visitors.

Tulare Street grade separation project reconnects Fresno’s Chinatown and Downtown

© California High-Speed Rail Authority

Other recent structures delivered in the region include Avenue 56 in Tulare County, Belmont and Central avenues in Fresno County, and Fargo and Whitley avenues in Kings County.

Garth Fernandez, Authority Central Valley Regional Director said:

From urban Fresno to rural Tulare County, the Authority continues to deliver tangible benefits to local communities. This brand-new structure will improve access for farm equipment, emergency responders and everyday travellers, helping our valley stay safe and connected.

Work continues along the 171-mile section of high-speed rail between Merced and Bakersfield, where nearly 70 miles of guideway and 56 structures have been completed. A further 29 structures are under construction across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties. Statewide, 463 miles of the planned 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim route have been fully environmentally cleared.

Since construction began, more than 15,500 jobs have been created, most of them in the Central Valley. Around 1,700 workers are active on high-speed rail construction sites each day.

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