Brightline West Will Begin Hiring Workers and Launch Field Investigation Work

Courtesy of Brightline West

LAS VEGAS – Brightline West launches field investigation work in Nevada, and it will begin to recruit workers to construct the high-speed rail system.

Brightline West has announced it is launching field investigation work in Nevada. This work will move forward the final stages of design “in preparation for a groundbreaking.” It seeks to connect Las Vegas to Southern California via high-speed rail. The field work will include “geotechnical borings and samplings, utility potholing and land surveying.” While most work will take place during the day, some work will occur at night to “minimize disruption to traffic.” Additionally, all work completed will be compliant with environmental regulations and is “being done in coordination with the Nevada Department of Transportation and will take place within the limits of the Brightline West corridor within I-15 right-of-way.”

The field investigation areas are as follows:

1. I-15 median north of Jean, Nevada: Continuous geotechnical boring work will take place from January 15th – March 14^th.
2. I-15 median north of Primm, Nevada: Continuous geotechnical boring work will take place from January 17^th – February 2024.
3. Northbound I-15 from St. Rose to Blue Diamond Road: Geotechnical boring work will take place at St. Rose Parkway interchange off-ramp and median from January 22^nd to February 23^rd.

As well, utility potholing along shoulders and ramps will take place from January 21^st to February 2^nd.

According to a report from the Victorville Daily Press, Brightline West will begin to recruit workers to construct said high-speed rail system. An anticipated 11,000 workers will build 218 miles of rail by the summer, and 3,000 construction workers are “expected to be hired within Southern Nevada, according to Vince Saavedra, the executive secretary-treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions.” At the time of reporting, there is no current timeline for the hiring of workers, only that the California Building Trades has said “work will start ‘soon’ at multiple sites as once.” However, the completion of the project is slated for summer 2028, in time for the Olympics, which will take place in Los Angeles.

RT&S reported on the $3 billion in funding approved by the Biden administration back on December 5, 2023. According to the Clark County Commissioner, Michael Naft, “Things like the entitlement process and land issues for both the station and the rai line are taken care of. Rights of way issues have been resolved. . . There’s so much groundwork that has gone into this project, that now it truly is shovel-ready.”