Grade Separation: Laurel Street
Current Laurel St. grade crossing.
SANBAG is proposing the construction of a bridge to separate vehicles and pedestrians on Laurel Street from rail traffic along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks. The Laurel Street and BNSF railroad crossing is in the City of Colton and is located approximately a mile north of I-10 and a mile and a half west of I-215.
Today, an estimated 90 trains pass through the Laurel Street/BNSF crossing a day on six railroad tracks resulting in a total “gate down” time of over four hours daily. The number of trains crossing Laurel Street is expected to double to a 100 trains a day in year 2035 increase due to regional growth and as the economy improves.
A third notable benefit of this project is that a grade separation will also reduce train noise impacts to adjacent properties by eliminating the need for trains to blow their horns as they pass the crossing. This project is a component of the Railroad Quiet Zone that is being established in the City of Colton.
Another view of the current Laurel St. grade crossing.
The proposed project will depress Laurel Street under six railroad tracks.Because of the change in the elevation of the road, 8th Street on the north and south of Laurel will be designed to end in a cul-de-sac. The project will include local street improvements to maintain access to businesses, construction of retaining walls, utility relocations, drainage improvements, and landscaping.
The project will be funded with Measure I, State Transportation Corridor Improvement Fund (TCIF) and Transportation Congestion Relief Program (TCRP) dollars, and contributions from the City of Colton, BNSF Railway Company, and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). Start of construction is planned for early 2013 and is expected to last about 18 months. Cost of construction is estimated at $40 million.
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