WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) celebrated the opening of the State Route 43 at Jersey Avenue Grade Separation in Kings County. The grade separation will improve safety and traffic flow near State Route 43 and the high-speed rail corridor in the Central Valley. There are now 61 high-speed rail structures completed across the first 119 miles of construction.
June 5, 2026 - KINGS COUNTY, Calif. – The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) has completed another structure, bringing the total number of finished structures to 61 along the first 119 miles of active construction in the Central Valley. The State Route 43 at Jersey Avenue grade separation in Kings County is now open to traffic.
“We’re especially proud to see the State Route 43 at Jersey Avenue grade separation open to traffic. This structure is a major safety improvement for Kings County, improving the flow of traffic and creating a smoother, more reliable connection for drivers, businesses, and farm operations along this critical stretch of the highway. As we continue to advance construction across the Valley, projects like this show how high-speed rail is already delivering real, tangible benefits to local communities," said Ed Fenn, Chief of Construction for the Authority.
The grade separation opened to traffic on May 20. Located between Jackson and Kent avenues, the two-lane structure spans 437 feet long, more than 43 feet wide and is one of two grade separations in Kings County that will carry highway traffic over the high-speed rail tracks. The overpass is a cast-in-place, box girder bridge with no pre-cast elements comprised of 575,298 pounds of steel and more than 2,400 cubic yards of concrete.
Last month, the Road 26 grade separation opened to traffic in Madera County. Its completion also marks the 11th and final Madera County grade separation needed within the first 119 miles of construction. Earlier this year, the Ventura Avenue grade separation, an underpass located near downtown Fresno, was also completed and opened to traffic.
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 80 miles of guideway are complete, along with 61 fully completed major structures and 30 more structures 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.
Throughout construction, the project has created nearly 19,200 good-paying jobs—most filled by Central Valley residents – and generated nearly $25 billion in economic impact and growth across the state. Up to 1,700 workers report to high-speed rail construction sites each day.
For the latest on high-speed rail construction, visit: www.buildhsr.com
Source: CA. HSR
