Traffic Flows on Hunts Lane Overpass

A train bell sounded quietly on the rail connecting the cities of Colton and San Bernardino Thursday morning, Nov. 6, as a crowd of residents, business owners, project personnel and local leaders gathered at the base of the newly constructed Hunts Lane overpass to dedicate the new bridge completed after nearly two years of construction. Thursday’s dedication ceremony opened with a welcome by Master of Ceremonies Dennis Michael, president of San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG), who partnered with Union Pacific Railroad and the cities of Colton and San Bernardino to complete the project within budget at approximately $30 million. “Through efforts of our construction team we were thrilled to see traffic cross over this new bridge just this past Thursday for the first time,” said Michael, as the bridge was opened Oct. 30. The overpass was constructed over the Union Pacific railroad separating Colton to the west and San Bernardino to the east, and provides two north- and southbound traffic lanes and sidewalks. Other benefits include: traffic and pedestrian safety, reduced noise from train horns, reduced air pollution from idling vehicles at crowded intersections, and eliminating time spent by motorists waiting for trains to cross. The general contractor for the project was Skanska, and Caltrop was the construction management team. Colton City Mayor Sarah Zamora thanked the workers who completed the project. “The wonderful thing about this project is we all worked together… but the bottom line is, without staff and without those people that actually physically do the job, these projects will never be completed,” Zamora said. “I want to acknowledge all the hard work of all the gentlemen and ladies that actually lifted shovels and pounded dirt.” Both Colton and San Bernardino continue to partner with SANBAG on other grade projects, including Colton’s Laurel Street Grade Separation Project and San Bernardino’s Palm Avenue Grade Separation Project. San Bernardino City Mayor Carey Davis said, “Many of these projects are taking place currently as we are sitting here celebrating the completion of this one. That is a collaborative effort and showing the way for how the Inland Empire and our communities continue to grow and attract businesses.” The multi-million dollar project was funded largely by State and Federal funds, with the help of Measure I, the county’s half-cent sales tax measure, explained SANBAG spokesperson Tim Watkins. With San Bernardino County as a major part of the nationwide goods movement, many products from Los Angeles and Long Beach-based ports frequently travel through San Bernardino County via rail. But San Bernardino County also exports, explained Lupe Valdez, Director of Public Policy and Community Affairs with Union Pacific Railroad. “It’s an important part of our fabric of what San Bernardino County offers, and also that you share with the rest of the country the benefits of the companies that are doing well here in San Bernardino County,” Valdez said. Following the speakers, certificate presentations were made to SANBAG by San Bernardino County Supervisor, Fifth District, Josie Gonzales, and on behalf of State Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown. Representatives were also on site from the office of State Senator Mike Morrell and San Bernardino County Supervisors Robert Lovingood, Janice Rutherford and James Ramos. A ribbon cutting ended Thursday’s ceremony and officially marked the dedication of the Hunts Lane overpass. [END] Mayor Zamora: Welcome, everyone and thank you for coming out and helping us celebrate this event. 18 months ago when we had the groundbreaking ceremony for this project, we saw some beautiful renditions of what this bridge was going to look like, and to my pleasant surprise, it looks exactly like the pictures that I saw 18 months ago, so I am impressed. Everybody that was involved in this project did a great job. Very beautiful. As you all well know, this project will benefit the residents of both cities and the commuters of the surrounding areas as well. We all know that it’s going to reduce traffic delay, train noise and vehicle emissions, and also definitely will eliminate the chances of vehicle and train collisions. The wonderful thing about this project is we all worked together, and we all know very well that the mayors, yes, are involved and the councilmembers of the cities, yes, and SANBAG and both railroads, but the bottom line is, without staff and without those people that actually physically do the job, these projects will never be completed, so I want to acknowledge all the hard work of all the gentlemen and ladies that actually lifted shovels and pounded dirt and did all those things. My prayer today is that He continue to bless the cities of Colton and San Bernardino as we continue to work collectively on projects that benefit our cities. Mayor Davis: Thank you. I am indeed happy and pleased to be here this morning… SANBAG board has 24 city representatives, 5 supervisors, working with those individuals has really been of great uplift to me. I really am happy and proud to be part of that effort. SANBAG representing 24 cities, there is so much going on in our region as a result of that…many of these projects are taking place projects currently as we are sitting here taking place today celebrating the completion of this one. That is a collaborative effort and showing the way for how the Inland Empire and our communities continue to grow and attract businesses. The widening of the 215 freeway has opened our city up to a free flow of traffic. This will also help open up this area and reduce some of the burden on Waterman as the traffic here will be able to flow at a much smoother pace, and it improves the quality of life for our residents and certainly that is one of the things that I know our supervisors are working on. Couldn’t have happened without all the collaboration and partners involved. Thank you for your efforts in coming together and making this project successful. Lupe Valdez: *major part of goods movement for the rest of our country. Many travel through our county, via rail.* I realize these projects cost a lot of money, but in the long run, in the long-term, for residents and for general circulation of traffic, they are phenomenal…. We can basically co-exist. We are in an area where it’s important for imports as much as exports, and I mention that because sometimes we do forget that while things do come from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, San Bernardino also exports. One of the premier companies, our customer, that we have is actually in Fontana… (make huge wind component parts shipped around nation to wind farms), they use the train. So you have a lot of companies here that export out ot other parts of the country… it’s an important part of our fabric of what sb county offers and also that you share with the rest of the country, the benefits of the companies that are doing well here in san Bernardino county. ******* Join us for the Dedication Ceremony for the Hunts Lane Overpass Project Northeast corner of W. Club Center Drive just east of Hunts Lane Thursday, November 6th at 10am See attached invitation for more event details. Thank you! Hunts Lane Overpass Project Team Union Pacific SANBAG City of Colton City of San Bernardino