The Kings River Viaduct is a planned series of bridges and embankments carrying California High-Speed Rail over the Kings River in Fresno County and Kings County, California. The site is between the Fresno and Kings–Tulare stations, roughly 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Laton and 8 miles (13 km) north of Hanford.[1] The structure is planned to be over 2 miles (3.2 km) long because three river channels must be crossed, two of which were created by floods in the 1860s.[1][2]
In the vicinity of the crossing, the Kings River consists of three widely separated river channels collectively known as the Kings River Complex. From north to south, these are Cole Slough, Dutch John Cut, and the Old Kings River, all of which flow in a westerly direction. Cole Slough and the Old River separate at the People's Weir, the largest weir in the Kings River system. The Old River was the main course of the river until two floods in 1861 and 1867, the first of which created Cole Slough and the second of which caused it to become the river's new main course.[2] Since then the Old River has been dry except when river flows are exceptionally high. Dutch John Cut diverges from Cole Slough east of the bridge site, and joins the Old River to reform the main channel of the Kings River to the west of the bridge site. Cole Slough is then mostly diverted into several canals in the vicinity of Laton.[2]
Dirt excavation sites in the vicinity of the bridge will be reused as groundwater recharge basins once construction is complete.[3]
Historyedit
The Kings River Viaduct is part of Construction Package 2–3, whose contract was awarded to Dragados/Flatiron/Shimmick in December 2014; the bid for the entire Construction Package was $1,234,567,890.[4][5] The initial April 2014 plans called for an 11,680-foot-long concrete viaduct, with four truss bridge segments for the three river channels and Riverside Ditch.[1] By 2016, during the bidding process the land portions were changed to embankments containing wildlife crossings, reducing the estimated cost by $79 million. At that time construction was expected to commence in spring 2017 and be completed in 2019.[4]
In mid-2019, construction on the first portion of the bridge, the steel truss crossing of the Old Kings River, was scheduled to begin in September that year.[6] However, in December 2019 the project continued to be delayed due to land acquisition, coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service, utility relocation, and a lawsuit from a farmer owning land adjacent to the project.[7]
As of mid-2020, the test pile foundation work was complete. Construction of the substructure was scheduled to begin in mid-October dependent on permit approvals.[8]
By early 2024, bridges over Dutch John Cut and the Old Kings River were under construction.[9]
Referencesedit
^ abc"Final EIR/EIS: Fresno to Bakersfield—Appendix 3.8-B: Summary of Hydraulic Modeling for Project Alternatives" (PDF). California High-Speed Rail Authority. April 2014. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
^ abc(PDF). Kings River Conservation District. June 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
^Lindt, John (2016-02-15). "Could high-speed rail help farmers get more water?". Visalia Times-Delta. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
^ abLindt, John (2016-08-18). "Business pulse: High speed rail touts savings on Kings River bridge". Hanford Sentinel. Retrieved 2016-08-22.
^"High-Speed Rail Authority Announces Bid Results on Next Segment of Construction in the Central Valley" (PDF). California High-Speed Rail Authority. 2014-12-11.
^Lindt, John (2019-06-20). "Kings River HSR bridge construction to start". The Business Journal. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
^Lindt, John (2019-12-11). "Kings-Tulare HSR station platform construction to start". The Sun-Gazette Newspaper. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
kings, river, viaduct, planned, series, bridges, embankments, carrying, california, high, speed, rail, over, kings, river, fresno, county, kings, county, california, site, between, fresno, kings, tulare, stations, roughly, miles, east, laton, miles, north, han. The Kings River Viaduct is a planned series of bridges and embankments carrying California High Speed Rail over the Kings River in Fresno County and Kings County California The site is between the Fresno and Kings Tulare stations roughly 4 miles 6 4 km east of Laton and 8 miles 13 km north of Hanford 1 The structure is planned to be over 2 miles 3 2 km long because three river channels must be crossed two of which were created by floods in the 1860s 1 2 Planned route of California High Speed Rail in the vicinity of the Kings River in red In the vicinity of the crossing the Kings River consists of three widely separated river channels collectively known as the Kings River Complex From north to south these are Cole Slough Dutch John Cut and the Old Kings River all of which flow in a westerly direction Cole Slough and the Old River separate at the People s Weir the largest weir in the Kings River system The Old River was the main course of the river until two floods in 1861 and 1867 the first of which created Cole Slough and the second of which caused it to become the river s new main course 2 Since then the Old River has been dry except when river flows are exceptionally high Dutch John Cut diverges from Cole Slough east of the bridge site and joins the Old River to reform the main channel of the Kings River to the west of the bridge site Cole Slough is then mostly diverted into several canals in the vicinity of Laton 2 Dirt excavation sites in the vicinity of the bridge will be reused as groundwater recharge basins once construction is complete 3 History editThe Kings River Viaduct is part of Construction Package 2 3 whose contract was awarded to Dragados Flatiron Shimmick in December 2014 the bid for the entire Construction Package was 1 234 567 890 4 5 The initial April 2014 plans called for an 11 680 foot long concrete viaduct with four truss bridge segments for the three river channels and Riverside Ditch 1 By 2016 during the bidding process the land portions were changed to embankments containing wildlife crossings reducing the estimated cost by 79 million At that time construction was expected to commence in spring 2017 and be completed in 2019 4 In mid 2019 construction on the first portion of the bridge the steel truss crossing of the Old Kings River was scheduled to begin in September that year 6 However in December 2019 the project continued to be delayed due to land acquisition coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service utility relocation and a lawsuit from a farmer owning land adjacent to the project 7 As of mid 2020 the test pile foundation work was complete Construction of the substructure was scheduled to begin in mid October dependent on permit approvals 8 By early 2024 bridges over Dutch John Cut and the Old Kings River were under construction 9 References edit a b c Final EIR EIS Fresno to Bakersfield Appendix 3 8 B Summary of Hydraulic Modeling for Project Alternatives PDF California High Speed Rail Authority April 2014 pp 1 2 Retrieved 2016 08 21 a b c The Kings River Handbook PDF Kings River Conservation District June 2003 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 25 Retrieved 2016 08 21 Lindt John 2016 02 15 Could high speed rail help farmers get more water Visalia Times Delta Retrieved 2016 08 28 a b Lindt John 2016 08 18 Business pulse High speed rail touts savings on Kings River bridge Hanford Sentinel Retrieved 2016 08 22 High Speed Rail Authority Announces Bid Results on Next Segment of Construction in the Central Valley PDF California High Speed Rail Authority 2014 12 11 Lindt John 2019 06 20 Kings River HSR bridge construction to start The Business Journal Retrieved 2019 09 17 Lindt John 2019 12 11 Kings Tulare HSR station platform construction to start The Sun Gazette Newspaper Retrieved 2020 01 22 Lindt John Around Kings County Jobless rates improve hanfordsentinel com Retrieved 28 September 2020 Projects California High Speed Rail Authority Retrieved 2024 03 05 36 26 50 N 119 37 21 W 36 447105 N 119 622404 W 36 447105 119 622404 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kings River Viaduct amp oldid 1211926784, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
