September 16, 2022 - KINGS COUNTY, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), in collaboration with Dragados-Flatiron Joint Venture, on Thursday announced the opening of the Jackson Avenue Grade Separation, the first completed high-speed rail structure in Kings County.

The new overcrossing is located between State Route 43 and Seventh Avenue, south of the city of Hanford. It is 212 feet long, 35 feet wide and takes traffic over the future high-speed rail tracks.

“We’re proud to continue to work with Kings County in getting the Jackson Avenue Grade Separation open for residents,” said Garth Fernandez, the Authority’s Central Valley Regional Director. “Grade separations such as this ensure a safe operating high-speed rail corridor. This is one of several structures in the Central Valley to be completed this year.”

The new structure is the latest sign of progress throughout the Central Valley, following the recent completion of the Avenue 15 ½ Grade Separation in Madera County and the South Avenue Grade Separation in Fresno County. In addition, the Authority recently awarded contracts to advance design along the Merced to Madera and Fresno to Bakersfield project sections, expanding the 119-mile segment to 171 miles of electrified high-speed rail under development and construction.

Since the start of construction, the high-speed rail project has created more than 8,600 construction jobs, with a majority going to Central Valley residents. This includes 2,913 jobs going to residents from Fresno County, 1,608 from Kern County, 849 from Tulare County, 380 from Madera County and 293 from Kings County.

For more on construction, visit: www.buildhsr.com

Source: CA. HSR