Foothill Gold Line E-News

December 2021

UPDATES: Project 40% Complete; Grade Crossing Updates; Bridge Work in Glendora; Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave.; Glendora Station; Pomona Station Parking; Overhead Catenary System; Freight Track Relocation

Project Reaches 40% Completion to Close Out 2021

This past year has seen significant progress made on the 9.1-mile Foothill Gold Line project from Glendora to Pomona. As we reach the end of 2021, the four-station light rail project is now 40% complete overall; with the grade crossing work more than 65% complete, freight track relocation more than 60% complete, and the bridgework nearing 30% complete (90% of the freight bridge construction is now complete).

Construction is very active throughout the project corridor, and is underway on the first of the four new light rail stations, the four new light rail bridges that will cross major streets, and the light rail system itself.

In 2022, crews will complete the freight track relocation and all of the grade crossing work, and will be actively installing the light rail system and building the four new stations. At the same time, the Construction Authority will continue to seek the funding needed to bring the Foothill Gold Line to Claremont and Montclair; and we hope to have news in the new year on that front.

Thank you for your continued patience as we build this major infrastructure project. Many of the streets you use regularly have been closed for significant periods this past year, and we appreciate your understanding as the construction impacted your daily lives.

Below are some highlights of construction from the past month:

Grade Crossing Work is Now 65% Complete

Photo: San Dimas Canyon Rd. crossing in San Dimas/La Verne reopen after initial crossing work to relocate the freight track. A second closure is needed to complete the work at this crossing.

As of this month, 65% of the grade crossing work from Glendora to Pomona is now complete. 18 months ago, crews began reconstructing the Gladstone St. crossing in San Dimas to kick off major construction for the project, and since then, nearly all of the 21 at-grade crossings in the project have undergone reconstruction work.

Recently, crews utilized a three-week closure of the San Dimas Canyon Rd. crossing in San Dimas/La Verne to relocate the freight track and complete underground utility work, allowing the street to reopen to motorists and pedestrians on December 2. A longer full closure of the street will take place in the second quarter of 2022 to complete the remainder of the crossing work, including the installation of two new light rail tracks.

Grade Crossing Reconstruction Underway in Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne

Photos: (top) Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection crossing in Glendora; (bottom) Crews installing the temporary freight track at the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection

This past Sunday, crews fully closed the intersection of Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora to relocate the existing freight track that was in the middle of the rail corridor and install a temporary freight track in its new position. This is to make room for crews to begin work on the future light rail bridge (read more on the bridge below). Due to the short duration of the closure, crews have been working 24 hours a day to complete the necessary work and are on schedule to reopen the intersection tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 5 AM. Click here to read the construction notice.

NOTE: Crews will be returning to the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection in 2022 to install the permanent freight track and finalize the crossing work.

Photo: Crews relocating underground SoCal Edison power line at Pasadena Ave. crossing in Glendora

Elsewhere, crews are also currently underway with the reconstruction of grade crossings at Pasadena Ave. in Glendora (the closure was extended to February 11, 2022; click here for notice); San Dimas Ave. in San Dimas (began December 6; click here for notice); and A St. (click here for notice) and White Ave. in La Verne (began December 6, click here for notice).

Photo: San Dimas Ave. crossing in San Dimas

At these four crossings, crews are relocating and protecting underground water, sewer, gas, communications and power lines, and will later move on to track installation, installing new safety equipment, and rebuilding the roadway, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and medians.

Photos: (top) Crews potholing to verify underground utilities at A St. crossing; (bottom) Crews relocating and protecting underground gas line at White Ave. crossing in La Verne

As always, if you know anyone who may be impacted by these or other closures, they are encouraged to sign up for Construction Alerts at www.foothillgoldline.org.

Bridge Work is Nearing 30% Complete

Overall, crews have now begun or completed construction on nearly all of the 19 bridges to be built from Glendora to Pomona. About 90% of the freight bridge work is now complete, which has been underway in conjunction with the freight track relocation to make room in the corridor for the light rail system.

With the freight bridge work nearing completion, the KPJV structures team is now focusing on constructing the various light rail bridges from Glendora to Pomona, including the four new light rail bridges being built over major streets:

Construction of New Light Rail Bridges Over Major Streets

In Glendora, construction is underway on the bridges over the Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection, at Route 66 and Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora; and in San Dimas, at the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection. Each is required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to improve safety for both the new light rail system and city streets. Below are updates on all of them:

Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. Intersection Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Crews drilling to construct the east foundation for the future light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. intersection in Glendora

While the closure of the intersection of Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora is underway, crews continue to make progress constructing various elements of the future light rail bridge on both sides of the crossing.

Southeast of the intersection, crews recently began constructing the east foundation for the light rail bridge, as seen in the photo above. Crews are drilling holes, installing 80-foot-long steel cages and pouring concrete as part of the foundation work.

Photo: Crews installing custom form panels for the west approach of the future light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. in Glendora

And northwest of the intersection, the west approach for the future light rail bridge continues to take shape. As seen in the photo above, the retaining walls for the approach consist of custom form panels that feature the project’s citrus design and will measure nearly 1,250 feet in length.

To understand what the future light rail bridge over Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. will look like, click here to see 3D simulations.

Route 66 Light Rail Bridge

Photos: Crews installing 70-foot-long, eight-foot-diameter steel cages (top) and pouring concrete (bottom) to complete column foundation work for future light rail bridge over Route 66 in Glendora

In late November, crews utilized a ten-day closure of Route 66 between Hunters Trail and Compromise Line Rd. in Glendora to successfully install the two column foundations for the future light rail bridge over Route 66 (being built alongside the existing freight bridge that will remain intact). Two 70-foot-long, eight-foot-diameter steel cages were installed into the ground, followed by concrete pours to complete the work. Crews were able to complete the work necessary to reopen the street to motorists and pedestrians in the early morning of November 29.

With this work behind them, crews will soon construct the falsework (the temporary support for the super-structure that will cross the street itself), while they also continue work on the west and east abutments.

Lone Hill Ave. Light Rail Bridge

Photo: Crews constructing the west approach for the future light rail bridge over Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora

Following last month’s completion of the column foundation work for the future light rail bridge over Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora, crews continue to make progress on other elements of the bridge.

West of Lone Hill Ave., crews continue to build the retaining walls for the approach between the new light rail bridges at San Dimas Wash and Lone Hill Ave. As seen in the photo above, the walls will consist of custom form panels that feature the project’s citrus design.

Photos: Crews constructing the west (top) and east (bottom) abutments for the future light rail bridge over Lone Hill Ave. in Glendora

Crews are also now constructing the west and east abutments (the supports at both ends of a bridge) for the future bridge, as seen in the photos above. As you can see, crews are further ahead on the eastern abutment.

The Lone Hill Ave. bridge will be the largest bridge on the 9.1-mile project from Glendora to Pomona. When completed, the bridge will span 344 feet from abutment to abutment. The super-structure will have a minimum vertical clearance of 24 feet to allow freight trains to travel underneath. This is the one location between Glendora and Pomona where the freight system will switch from south to north positions in the corridor to continue serving customers. To see what the bridge will look like when completed, click here for a 3D simulation.

Construction will continue on the light rail bridge over Lone Hill Ave. through the end of 2022, with long-term lane closures and a few days of full street closures ahead. To learn more, click here.

Phase 3 of Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. Intersection Reconstruction in San Dimas – Construction of New Light Rail Bridge Continues

Photos: Crews constructing the west (top) and east (bottom) abutments for the future light rail bridge over the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection in San Dimas

Crews are currently in Phase 3 of a four-phased construction plan to reconfigure the Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. intersection in San Dimas. This phase requires a full closure of Cataract Ave. north and south of Bonita Ave. through June 2022. Bonita Ave. traffic remains open in both directions, and the eastbound Bonita Ave. to southbound Cataract Ave. movement also remains open. For more information on the closure, click here.

Meanwhile, crews continue to make progress on the construction of the new light rail bridge. As seen in the photos above, crews are constructing the walls for the west and east abutments of the bridge. Soon, crews will be underway on the bridge falsework (the temporary support for the super-structure that will cross the intersection).

To learn more about the intersection improvements and future light rail bridge, click here.

Glendora Station Construction Underway

Photos: Crews constructing the platform for the future Glendora station

Within the corridor between Vermont Ave. and Glendora Ave. in Glendora, crews have begun constructing the platform for the future Glendora station. The station will be a center platform station, with light rail tracks soon to be installed on both sides (one for westbound and one for eastbound Gold Line trains).

The station will feature public artwork by Glendora station artist Michael Hillman (who is also a Glendora resident and professor of Art at Citrus College). A 300-space surface parking lot will be built to the south of the station in the future. For more information on the future Glendora station and artwork, click here.

Demolition to Make Way for Future Pomona Station Parking Facility

Photo: Crews demolishing to make way for the future Pomona station parking facility

At the site of the future 530-space parking facility for the Pomona station, crews recently began demolishing several abandoned buildings. In addition to spaces for Metro and Metrolink riders, the future parking facility will also provide amenities for riders arriving by walking, bicycle, bus and drop-off. To view the site plan for the future Pomona station and associated parking facility, click here.

OCS (Overhead Catenary System) Foundation Work

Photos: Crews installing the steel cage (top) and pouring concrete (bottom) for the foundations of the overhead catenary system in Glendora

East of the Glendora station, crews have begun constructing the foundations for the overhead catenary system (OCS) that will provide electrical power to the light rail trains via overhead wires. Crews are drilling holes, installing steel cages and pouring concrete to complete each foundation for the OCS. Hundreds of these foundations will be constructed throughout the corridor from Glendora to Pomona. In the future, during the final steps of the construction of the light rail system, crews will install poles on top of these foundations that will carry the catenary wires, as well as the rest of the overhead catenary system.

Freight Track Relocation Nearing Completion

Photo: Crews installing relocated freight track in La Verne

Throughout the corridor in San Dimas and La Verne, nearly all of the existing freight track has been removed, and crews continue to install the new track in its relocated position. Overall, crews are nearly complete with the freight track relocation work. While the majority of the relocation will be completed by the end of this year, the short distance of freight track through Pomona will be relocated in 2022. Light rail construction is anticipated to start soon in Glendora.

Thank you for your continued interest in the Foothill Gold Line. We appreciate your patience as we build this important regional project, and wish you a safe and meaningful holiday season.

Lisa Levy Buch, Chief Communications and Strategic Development Officer and the Public Affairs Team