The California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) has published a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for design-build services to extend the state’s high-speed rail system. Statements for the $2.4 billion contract are due in November, with construction slated to begin in late 2027.
The Merced to Madera (M2M) civil works project will build a 30.3-mile stretch of high-speed rail guideway. The project will start just south of Mission Avenue in Merced to the southern project interface at Construction Package 1 in Madera County.
The project will be split into three distinct segments for phased construction – North, Wye and South. Major project components outside of building the guideway will prioritize roadway modifications and bridge and aerial structures. These will serve as important crossings for waterways, public roads, state facilities and railroad corridors.
Additional project components will consist of embankment and grading, grade separations and drainage and floodplain improvements. The project will also call for animal crossings, irrigation facilities, utility coordination and other necessary civil infrastructure needed for the M2M corridor.
The North Segment of the project will include roughly 9.6 miles of guideway. The at-grade stretch of rail will be adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad corridor and will feature a series of hydraulic bridges, waterway crossings and roadway crossings.
The Wye Segment will cover 6.1 miles. The project will build waterway crossings and multiple local roadway underpasses.
The South Segment spans the longest distance at 14.6 miles, completing the final connection for the corridor. Plans include building waterway crossings, local roadway underpasses and a major aerial crossing.
Photo courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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