Contact

For Immediate Release: March 20, 2007

Cheryl Donahue
Public Information Officer
(909) 884-8276

Construction Coming Soon on Bridge over Railroad Tracks
at State St/University Pkwy, San Bernardino
Public Invited to Open House on March 29

Tired of waiting for trains? Help is on the way for drivers near the State Street/University Parkway intersection with Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks at the border of the city and county of San Bernardino, thanks to upcoming construction of a bridge in this area.

San Bernardino Associated Governments, also known as SANBAG, will host an Open House for residents, business operators and other local travelers on March 29 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Inland Empire Job Corps, 3173 Kerry St., San Bernardino. Open House visitors may view maps and ask questions about this long-awaited project.
Bids will be opened on March 22, and a construction contract will be presented for approval to the SANBAG Board of Directors on April 4. Work is expected to begin in May and last about two years.

Funding for the estimated $28 million project is provided mainly by the state’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program, with a contribution by Burlington Northern Santa Fe. SANBAG received $95 million from this program in mid-2000, but a series of state budget crises suspended the funding.

“We are very pleased that this project finally will be underway,” said SANBAG Executive Director Tony Grasso. “Providing a bridge for this heavily-traveled intersection will help reduce traffic, improve safety and provide economic benefits for the area,” he said.
Each day, about 16,700 vehicles pass through the intersection at State Street/University Parkway and Cajon Boulevard, and nearly 100 trains travel daily on the BNSF line in this area. Cars frequently face delays of up to 15 minutes while waiting for these cargo-carrying trains to cross.

Area motorists also will benefit from increased safety, since drivers will not be tempted to try to out-run trains or pass under the signal arm. Air quality will improve, due to fewer emissions from stopped vehicles at the rail crossing. Motorists also will have better access to local businesses.

The project will realign State Street/University Parkway and feature a bridge with two travel lanes, a sidewalk and a bicycle lane in each direction, as well as a center turn lane.  Nolan Street and Short Street will be realigned where they intersect State Street, and traffic signals will be placed at the intersections of State Street/Short Street and at Cajon Blvd/Short Street.  State Street will remain open to drivers through most of construction, but some short-term closures may occur.

The State Street/University Parkway project is one of five “grade separations” – the physical separation of vehicle traffic from rail traffic – chosen by SANBAG for funding through the Traffic Congestion Relief Program. Four other grade separation projects are planned for San Bernardino County through this funding source:

For more information or directions to the Open House, call SANBAG’s Public Information Office, (909) 884-8276.