Grade Separation: Hunts Lane
The construction of a bridge (also known as a grade separation) over the Union Pacific railroad tracks at Hunts Lane in the cities of Colton and San Bernardino was scheduled to receive funding from the state’s Traffic Congestion Relief Program and the federal transportation funds. SANBAG was in detailed design for this project when the state recommended suspending funding for the Traffic Congestion Relief Program in December 2002, due to California’s budget crisis. The project became active again in July 2005 with the addition of federal funding. Due to the addition of this federal funding, the project required federal environmental clearance, which was received in June 2007.
The project is designed to provide a bridge over the railroad tracks that cross Hunts Lane, to eliminate the need for motorists to wait for trains. The new bridge will accommodate two traffic lanes, a sidewalk and a bicycle lane in each direction and will raise the height of Hunts Lane from just south of Riverwood to north of Oliver Holmes Road.
Direct access to Hunts Lane from Club Center Drive is intended to be eliminated. Club Center Drive is designed to end in a cul-de-sac just east of Hunts Lane, and access is expected to continue from Oliver Holmes Road, Commercial Road and Riverwood. An emergency access road is to be built under the new Hunts Lane bridge, south of the railroad tracks. This is designed to allow secondary access for emergency vehicles to businesses south of the railroad.
Completion of the design and right of way is expected by the end of 2008. Construction will begin after that and last approximately 18 months and cost more than $20 million.