The design of the so-called Iconic Freeway Structure (IFS) bridge of the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority over the eastbound 210 Freeway heading into Arcadia is nearly complete, with only final engineering tweaks to artist Andrew Leicester’s design before work begins on the bridge featuring woven baskets pictured below. (Further updates on the overall Gold Line Foothill Extension from the Foothill Extension Authority following the photo below.)
Bridge to be built over eastbound 210 Freeway heading into Arcadia.
Following the August release of the Phase 2A (Pasadena to Azusa) Request for Proposals for Design-Build-Finance services (to construction the track, stations, a 25-acre Maintenance and Operations Facility, crossings, bridges, utilities and more), the three short listed teams are hard at work preparing proposals. Proposals for the $450+ million project are due in late January, and an award is anticipated for April. This schedule keeps us on track for a late 2014 project completion.
IFS design-build team Skanska USA/AECOM is spending the next several months finalizing designs for the 584-foot bridge over the eastbound lanes of the I-210 freeway. They are currently working with the California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS) to get the necessary permits to conduct some additional geologic testing at the IFS site location, which will help finalize the design (testing will take place in October).
Between now and April, when major construction is scheduled to begin on the bridge, AECOM (the designers) will work to turn the artist’s concept into an engineering reality.
Meanwhile, the Phase 2B environmental process is getting started. The consulting team, led by Parsons Brinckerhoff, is initiating work with the cities along the Phase 2B corridor, and will begin the public involvement process early in 2011. The Construction Authority will be preparing an Environmental Impact Report/Study (per CEQA/NEPA guidelines) for this 12.5-mile extension – evaluating the environmental impacts of the project and identifying ways to mitigate those impacts when feasible.
And finally, Construction Authority staff has been working around the clock to update the decade-old Authority website. Look for a revamped www.foothillextension.org website in late October.
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