The Fresno River Viaduct is a bridge to carry California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) over Route 145, the Fresno River, and Raymond Road in Madera County, California. [1]
It was completed in 2018, [2] the first permanent structure built for CAHSR. [3] The site is just east of the city limits of Madera, California, [3] about 20 miles northwest of the planned Fresno high-speed rail station and about 10 miles southeast of the planned Chowchilla Wye. [4] Because the site is downstream from the John Franchi Diversion Dam, the riverbed is normally dry unless heavy rains cause the dam to overtop. [5] [6] The bridge is 1,600 feet long [1] and 25 feet high, [3] and runs parallel to the BNSF Railway bridge over the Fresno River. [7]
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]
The Fresno River Viaduct is a bridge to carry California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) over Route 145, the Fresno River, and Raymond Road in Madera County, California. [1]
It was completed in 2018, [2] the first permanent structure built for CAHSR. [3] The site is just east of the city limits of Madera, California, [3] about 20 miles northwest of the planned Fresno high-speed rail station and about 10 miles southeast of the planned Chowchilla Wye. [4] Because the site is downstream from the John Franchi Diversion Dam, the riverbed is normally dry unless heavy rains cause the dam to overtop. [5] [6] The bridge is 1,600 feet long [1] and 25 feet high, [3] and runs parallel to the BNSF Railway bridge over the Fresno River. [7]
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]