CHSRA Completes Whitley Avenue Underpass
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Whitley Avenue underpass
Courtesy of The Authority
KINGS COUNTY, Calif. - The California High-Speed Rail Authority announced it has completed the underpass at Whitley Avenue, making it the second high-speed rail structure CHSRA has completed so far in 2025.
Whitley Avenue was closed in March 2023 to allow for construction. However, during that same month, heavy rainfall led to flooding in both Kings and Tulare counties. The roadway was reopened to allow for emergency services through. In September 2023, Whitley Avenue closed once more for construction.
Located east of Corcoran in Kings County, the underpass is a “cast-in-place box culvert that will allow east and westbound traffic to travel underneath the high-speed rail corridor.” Measuring more than 128 feet wide, the structure has 17 feet of vertical clearance. 1,577,635 pounds of reinforced steel and 4,497 cubic yards of concrete make up the structure.
Authority Central Valley Regional Director Garth Fernandez said, “We continue to make progress and remain committed to completing several more structures across the Central Valley this year, including some of our largest viaducts. Avenue is a prime example of how the Authority, alongside city and county agencies, can overcome challenges, including Mother Nature, and progress toward a future with 100% electrified rail.”
California High-Speed Rail Project
171 miles of the project from Merced to Bakersfield are under design and construction. CHSRA reports more than 60 miles of the guideway and more than 50 of 93 structures are completed. Currently, more than 30 structures are under construction. More than 15,000 construction jobs have been created for the project, and close to 1,600 workers are dispatched to the construction site every day.
