Grade Separations

Iowa Avenue Grade Separation

Cost:	$32,300,000.00
Status:	Completed
Start Date:	September 2012
Estimated Completion Date:	04/21/2014
Neighborhood:	Hunter Industrial Park
Contacts:	Danny Cwiak	Jessica Gordon
	Contract Administrator	Senior Administrative Analyst
	951-826-5990	951-826-2306

Project Status and News

• Iowa Bridge will be open to thru traffic during construction.

Description

The project will grade separate the existing Iowa Avenue/Burlington Northern Santa Fe at-grade crossing by raising Iowa Avenue through construction of an overpass structure over the BNSF tracks between Palmyrita Avenue and Spring Street.

The project will require modifications to the existing intersections of east and west Citrus Street with Iowa Avenue. Citrus Street east will be slightly modified to accommodate the new raised roadway and will include an access road under the bridge to maintain access to the property located at the southwest quadrant of the railroad and Iowa Avenue crossing.  West Citrus Street will be extended under the overpass and loop back to intersect the east side of Iowa Avenue approximately 700 feet north of the tracks.

Construction Schedule

Construction of the project began in September 2012. The project will take approximately 16 months to construct. Iowa Avenue will be closed to through traffic during construction. A detour route will be provided with motorists encouraged to use the I-215 freeway as an alternative route.

Project Benefits

• Eliminates approximately 6 hours per day of gate down time and resulting delays and traffic congestion on Iowa Avenue.
• Eliminates approximately 3 minutes average delay for each emergency responder that encounters a train .
• Eliminates over 51.63 tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions generated by vehicles delayed by trains (CO2 equivalent for 2030) .

Project Facts

• Average daily traffic on Iowa Avenue is over 16,000 vehicles per day and is projected to increase to 32,000 vehicles per day by 2025.
• Approximately 90 freight trains and 10 passenger trains cross Iowa Avenue daily.
• Number of trains is expected to increase to 169 per day by 2030.

Project Cost and Funding

The estimated project cost is $32.3 Million. Project funding includes:

Project Funding Sources	Iowa GS
Local Funds	$3.2 M
State Funds	$16.5 M
Federal Funds	$11.3 M
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Funds	$1.4 M
Total Project Funding	$32.4 M