ARTICLES AND PRESS RELEASES

The California Transportation Commission allocated $53.4 million Thursday to an Irwindale-based joint powers agency that completes funding for a roadway underpass and railroad bridge at Fullerton Road in the City of Industry.

The Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority (ACE), which received the money in the form of state bonds, announced the grant fully funds the $145.2 million grade separation project.

Bids for the project will go out this month and a contract is expected to be awarded in spring 2016, according to ACE.

"Once complete, this important rail-highway grade separation will eliminate crossing collisions and congestion, emergency vehicle delays and train horn noise as well as reduce emissions from idling vehicles stopped for trains," said Montebello Mayor Jack Hadjinian, chairman of the ACE Board of Directors.

ACE anticipates actual construction beginning in the summer of 2016 and predicts completion by the winter of 2019.

Plans include a six-lane roadway underpass on Fullerton Road plus a four-track railroad bridge for Railroad Street spanning Fullerton Road. Also, Gale Avenue will be lowered at the intersection with Fullerton Road.

This project marks the sixth railroad underpass along the freight-heavy 60 Freeway corridor between the 605 and the 57 freeways. ACE is currently building underpasses at South Nogales Street and Fairway Drive, between Rowland Heights and Walnut.

The Fullerton Road project will reduce traffic congestion by about 73.2 vehicle-hours of delay each day, according to ACE. About 51 trains pass by there each day. Fullerton Road carries 34,432 vehicles per day.