Pulling a ceremonial lever to switch a signal to green, US Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta inaugurated the Redondo Junction Grade Separation in southeast Los Angeles on August 21.
Allowing speeds of 80 km/h, the double-track flyover carries Metrolink and Amtrak passenger trains into LA Union Station above the future Alameda Corridor high-capacity freight route, other lines and several busy streets. Including five different types of bridge, the 800m structure will eliminate the delays and speed restrictions caused by conflicting passenger and freight movements at Redondo Junction. Trains began using the US$47m flyover in July.
The US$2·4bn Alameda Corridor serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach is scheduled to open in April. Mineta hailed the project as ’a national model of innovative transportation financing and public-private co-operation.’ The complex funding package includes local and federal government grants and loans, in addition to substantial investment by Union Pacific and BNSF.
