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Image of logo that says Building CAPHOTO RELEASE: High-Speed Rail Completes Avenue 17 Grade Separation in Madera County

 

New Structure Boosts Safety and Mobility  

October 30, 2025

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The Avenue 17 Grade Separation in Madera County is complete and open to traffic. The grade separation, the eighth structure to open to traffic this year, will improve mobility by taking vehicular traffic and pedestrians over the BNSF and future high-speed rail tracks.

MADERA COUNTY, Calif. –  The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) today announced the completion of the Avenue 17 Grade Separation project in Madera County. Avenue 17 is the eighth structure to be opened to traffic this year, bringing the total number of structures completed to 57. Once a cul-de-sac ending at the BNSF railroad tracks, the grade separation will now serve as a new through roadway improving east-west mobility for the surrounding community while reducing emergency response times for the area.

Located between Lake Street and Raymond Road, the Avenue 17 grade separation spans 614 feet and is more than 43 feet wide. The grade separation is also built with a pedestrian walkway, taking vehicular traffic and pedestrians over the BNSF and future high-speed rail tracks.

Graphic showing a bridge with vehicles on it above high-speed rail and BNSF railroad tracks. The graphic reads Avenue 17 Grade Separation by the numbers: 614 feet long, more than 43 feet wide. Other stats include 8,190 cubic yards of concrete, 1,846,374 pounds of steel, and 21 pre-cast concrete girders.

Open above image for larger version.

Headshot of Ben Ruiz, Director of Infrastructure Delivery

“This new overhead structure will improve traffic flow also ensuring quicker response times for emergency services. Our goal is to improve safety and make it easier for traffic and pedestrians around the high-speed rail corridor as we advance into the next phase of work, bringing electrified tracks and trains to the Valley.”

Ben Ruiz, Director of Infrastructure Delivery

Photo of overpass on Avenue 17 from ground level perspective.
View of the road on top of the Avenue 17 overpass where vehicles will circulate.

Open the above images for larger versions.

Construction for the Avenue 17 grade separation began in June 2023. The overcrossing is comprised of 21 pre-cast concrete girders, 8,190 cubic yards of concrete, and 1,846,374 pounds of steel. Construction was overseen by contractor Tutor-Perini/Zachry/Parsons.

Throughout 2025, the Authority has opened and completed several grade separation projects along the Central Valley. Last month, the Avenue 88 grade separation project was completed in Tulare County. In July, the Tulare Street underpass and grade separation was opened to traffic, reconnecting downtown and Fresno’s Chinatown. In Madera County, only one grade separation of the initial 119-mile Central Valley segment remains to be completed at Road 26 and is expected to be completed this year.

Grade separations separate vehicles and pedestrians from current freight rail and future high-speed rail operations. They reduce environmental and health impacts from idling vehicles and provide safety and economic benefits for the community.

High-Speed Rail Progress

Work continues daily on the high-speed rail project, with 171 miles currently under design and construction from Merced to Bakersfield. More than 70 miles of guideway are complete, along with 57 structures, with 31 more underway across Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties.

The project continues to advance statewide, with 463 miles of the 494-mile San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim system fully environmentally cleared and construction ready.

Since construction began, the project has created more than 16,100 good-paying jobs—most filled by Central Valley residents. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.

Interviews in Spanish are available upon request. For more information, contact the Authority’s media relations office at: news@hsr.ca.gov.

Se ofrecen entrevistas en Español bajo solicitud. Para obtener más información, contacte a la Oficina de Relaciones con los Medios por correo electrónico: news@hsr.ca.gov.

For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit www.buildhsr.com.

The following link contains recent video, animations, photography, press center resources and latest renderings: https://hsra.box.com/v/ca-hsr-media-resources.

Files are all available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed Rail Authority

Build More, Faster

High-speed rail is a key part of Governor Newsom’s Build More, Faster agenda, delivering infrastructure upgrades and creating jobs throughout the state. Discover more: Build.ca.gov
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