L.A. Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Updates
The purpose of this thread is status updates on the Foothill Extension for interested forumists.
The most prominent future structure is the planned bridge over the eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway in Arcadia, CA.
The above artist's conception of the structure is from the official www.foothillextension.org website.
Arcadia is just east of the famous City of Pasadena, most noted for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl football game both televised nationally generally on New Year's Day each year.
According to the official website at this time, construction of the bridge over the 210 Freeway is schedule to begin in April 2011, just four to five months away.
Back on June 8, 2009 this poster photographed the future bridge site, the site of the 1970's built bridge over the 210 Freeway that allowed the Santa Fe Railway's Second District "Super Chief" line to be rerouted so the freeway could be built. After the Santa Fe's line was sold to commuter interests and the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (relatively nearby) the then rather spectacular bridge was torn down.
The following are a few of those year 2009 taken photos at that site ...
Hopefully this thread (to be updated as warranted and by anyone) will be helpful to followers of the future Gold Line Foothill Extension.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Update as of Monday, May 23, 2011:
A very nifty video about the future "Iconic Bridge" over the 210 Freeway in Arcadia, CA can be watched at:
http://arcadiasbest.com/2011/05/210-freeway-bridge-video/
The above presentation of "Episode 3" is in two parts. When the first part ends, click the second part button and the presentation will continue.
K.P. has not visited the "Iconic Bridge" site of late to see what or if any activity is present there.
The video also mentioned a future bridge at the old Santa Anita Ave. grade crossing (in Arcadia) which the below photos (from June 8, 2009) depicts the site of. As one can see, the out of service old AT&SF Super Chief route is presently overgrown with weeds and plants.
An eastbound view:
The west side of Santa Anita Ave.:
Looking westbound:
K.P. hopes to visit the area within the next several weeks to make an onsite visual inspection.
Update as of Friday, June 10, 2010:
Part A (of A-B)
Arcadia was visited, and the site of the future "Iconic Freeway Structure" (bridge) over the 210 Freeway only had, at least from what I could see from the freeway, orange webbing at the east abutment to prevent workers from falling.
The Santa Anita Ave. grade crossing was stopped at, but nothing overly obvious was spotted. A westbound view found someone reading on the old track!
A June 8, 2009 view (just slightly over two years ago) looking east with spur cars on the photo upper right:
All those cars that had been on the spur were now cleared from the line.
Continued in Part B
Part B (of A-B)
When Santa Fe Railway turned the line over to the Foothill Extension people, it seems much was left behind, such as the old crossing gate mechanisms but not the separate flasher lights and their poles.
Can you imagine all the Super Chief and Super-C power that shunted the rails through the above grade crossing that caused those very gates to come down?
There is supposed to be a Gold Line Foothill Extension grade separation built here at Santa Anita Ave.
Some entity made sure the exact grade crossing location could not be identified anymore.
Lastly, just west of Santa Anita Ave., on Colorado Blvd., this old single-track railroad bridge will need to be removed.
While little was present construction-wise on this inspection, glaring things are coming in the future.
I'm not too wild about the 2 pineapple carbucles on either side of the cross span, I'm going to have to live with looking at this thing quite often once its built.
Have fun with your trains
Update as of January 3, 2013
The Foothill Extension
Part I (of I-II)
The Iconic Bridge
Arcadia, CA
For over a year this thread has been rather dormant, K.P. just not having business in the Gold Line Foothill Extension area. And, the few times the Iconic Bridge under construction was seen, it was not feasible to take photographs. Very recently, K.P. discovered his car had an autopilot! So, now here are a few views of the new bridge …
The land strip west of the structure, between the westbound and eastbound lanes of the 210 Freeway still only has cleared land and is trackless.
Continued in Part II
Part II (of I-II)
California Ave. & Duarte Rd.
Duarte, CA
At M.P. 122.10 (old ATSF), where the north-south California Ave. crosses the east-west rail line and parallel Duarte Rd., a now trackless sight is seen in preparation for the two-track Gold Line Foothill Extension. The below views were shot in the lowering sun approaching evening dusk.
Looking east:
A westward view:
Quite a change to the ex-route of the Santa Fe Super Chief!
An aerial of the grade crossing and vicinity: The coverage size can be adjusted.
Aerial with Once Mainline Track in Place
The aerial’s landscape has changed dramatically since the aerial was made, as the above photos show.
KP recently I have noticed that they are beginning to stockpile rail and concrete sleepers near the Miller Brewery and at what looks like a ROW construction yard in the Santa Fe Dam holding pond area just west of where the 210 overpasses the line. With the bridge finished they must be getting ready to start laying track very soon.
...and I still am not wild about the pineapple hand-grenade columns.
vsmith (1-7):
I was so focused on photographing the Iconic Bridge I didn’t notice hardly anything else.
One exception, though, that stopped me in my tracks was a couple of these guys on a residential side street in the area:
The Iconic Bridge was driven by a few months ago, when it was all gray, and it looked abnormally huge and albatross-like! It is unknown what happened, but it looks normal sized now … and attractive!
The “pineapple hand-grenade columns” do look different, but I think they will grow on us.
Best,
K.P.
FYI looks like they are doing underground cabling conduit and begun infill grading at the Madre Station side
vsmith:
Several months ago photos of the California Ave. grade crossing and the ex-Santa Fe line rail and ties pulled up, i.e., trackless.
Have you been by there recently? I was wondering if they are laying track yet …
Take care,
KP, I haven't seen any track going down so far, its all mostly all underground infrastructure that I see going in, but then my POV is often only what I can see from the car. Last I saw there was still grading to do on the eastern approach to the freeway overpass, but there was alot of rail/sleepers being stockpiled near the Miller plant and at the 605 overpass. I suspect we will see track going down anytime now.
PS all the activity I have seen has been on the western end of the extension, I cannot recall seeing any work being done at San Dimas or for that matter any points east of Azusa to Montclair, maybe thats phase 2. Getting over the 210 freeway seams to be the big hurtle for this extension.
vsmith (4-24):
That ‘stockpiling’ of materials by the 605 Freeway that you mentioned is indeed a good sign.
AERIAL: Is This the General Stockpiling Location by the 605 Freeway?
If it is, it does NOT look like any kind of photography there would be possible. But, a spaghetti-like freeway background sure would make for a cool photo!
It was noticed that the ex-Santa Fe line has single-track bridges for contractors to contend with.
AERIAL: Old Single-Track Bridge along Duarte Rd.
When such single-track bridges are modified or replaced altogether, that will probably be a super good sign.
The Iconic Bridge over the 210 Freeway is still not on Google aerials, which is sad …
AERIAL: No Iconic Bridge
… but it most certainly will be an identifiable landmark when the mapping service finally shows it from above.
The Mrs., believe it or not, vsmith, is out that way quite often, but for K.P. getting to the area is proving very chronically elusive. So your update input has been much appreciated.
Glad I can help. Yep thats the area, they appear to be using the area west of the 605 freeway as the main construction yard, the other construction stockpiling was east of the Miller plant where the tracks cross over the 210 freeway, there were several flatcars with rail and concrete sleeper parked there. That appears to be the eastern edge of work so far for now but then I haven't been out to where the Azusa station is planned but thats where the MTA says it will terminate this phase of building.
I believe you can access the 605 yard area thru the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area, there is a RC plane park on that side of the freeway so i know there is a thru road there plus lots of side roads so it may be possible to get closer to the yard.
Here is the current website which includes work locations and schedule dates:
http://www.foothillextension.org/images/uploads/maps/00FullMap.pdf
Exceeding Expectations
Because of unexpected matters behind the scenes that concerned the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread, K.P. was inspired to visit the Gold Line Foothill Extension area. While vsmith had conveyed matters quite well, what K.P. found on the Foothill Extension way exceeded his expectations! And, the expected few hours of shooting pictures turned into more like six hours, nearly 300 photos, and some hiking!
Things about the Sunset Route thread need to be finished up and posted first. Then time can be devoted to sorting photos, selecting appropriate ones, and composing material for this thread.
The Virginia Ave. Foothill Extension grade crossing in Azusa
What is presently taking place on a wide scale for the Foothill Extension may surprise you as it did K.P.
Now Building the Foothill Extension
The postings for this series will be in two groups, Parts A-I now, and Parts J-Q in two days.
Part “A” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
On a west to east basis, we start at a location between the east-west 210 Freeway and north-south Santa Anita Ave., at Cornell Drive that straddles the Gold Line Foothill Extension for several hundred feet.
Above, grading and construction equipment is seen, as well as the westbound lanes of the 210 Freeway in the background.
As seen below, a general area view from June 8, 2009 had a much different perspective, with the right-of-way having terrible overgrowth on it.
On June 10, 2011 the following photo of the old AT&SF Bridge over the two-lane Colorado Blvd. was shot, and subsequently posted in another thread.
Part “B” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Colorado Blvd. is now closed, and that single-track bridge has been removed.
From Santa Anita Ave, looking semi-west, that Colorado Blvd. bridging area is seen, as well as the cleared right-of-way back to the 210 Freeway.
Continued in Part C
Part “C” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Looking east sequentially with progressively more powerful telephoto views from Santa Anita Ave.:
In the last photo above, note the green tent-like green item near the center, as well as yellowish bridge sides farther back.
The above three photos are quite a contrast from the below June 8, 2009 photo previous shown in another thread.
Continued in Part D
Part “D” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
At the crossroads of Santa Clara St. and First Ave. downtown, the ex-Santa Fe line goes diagonally right through the intersection. View looks southeast (old Santa Fe eastbound).
Looking back northwest, that tent is seen, with a dug down pathway with multiple piping in it going into the distance.
Continued in Part E
Part “E” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
More of that piping:
Just south of that tent (Part C), a staging area of some sort is present that has a Foothill Extension advertising sign in it, a bunch of construction related items, and TWO old ex-Santa Fe headless signal masts.
A medic squad with lights and siren heads east.
At least emergency responders don’t have to contend with long, long Santa Fe freights from time to time anymore (they were usually westbound). But, on 15 minute headways, Gold Line trolley-like trains passing an average of every 7.5 minutes, emergency responders may have no idea what is coming …
Down in San Diego (CA), some crossing gates go down and up 140 times a day!
Continued in Part F
Part “F” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
A higher elevation northwestward view of that piping:
Another southeastward look at the railroad bridge east just down the line.
LINK: Aerial of That Single-Track Bridge
As discerned in the aerial, the railroad bridge goes diagonally over an intersection, the crossing of Huntington Drive and Second Ave.
Above, the north-south Second Street has a shoofly look to this day, undoubtedly so the bridge could be put in while the original north-south Second Street was kept open for auto traffic.
Continued in Part G
Part “G” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Some ground views by that single-track bridge.
Taking the bridge down will be a show in itself, and probably will take place late at night.
At least there will not be any rail traffic for contractors to worry around, and the end-support walling on each side will be able to be rebuilt for two-tracks at the contractors’ leisure. Of course, there is always the possibility that a separate second-track’s bridge could be put up. Time will tell … Interestingly, there is walling, though angled, on the south (left) side whereas the north side has no such walling.
Continued in Part H
Part “H” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
We move over to Monrovia, by the old Santa Fe Depot, and look west.
Continued in Part I
Part “I” (of A-I, Overall A-Q)
Looking east from the same general camera location, a key roadway artery, the old Myrtle Ave. curved grade crossing:
Two eastward views:
In the nearby public parking lot, an inviting billboard sign about the construction and the future.
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Parts J-Q will be posted by Friday, May 3, 2013 noon Pacific Daylight Time.
Part “J” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Along the east-west Duarte Rd., K.P. found a convenient spot west of Mountain Ave. to park and take a few construction photos.
Continued in Part K
Part “K” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Near Duarte Rd. and Buena Vista St., another convenient place to park and take photo was found. Looking west:
The Buena Vista St. grade crossing with old Santa Fe style flashers and crossing gates:
Continued in Part L
Part “L” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
Looking east across Buena Vista St.:
A mild eastward telephoto:
The paralleling Duarte Rd.:
Continued in Part M
Part “M” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
As we move eastward, we come to a rather unusual roadway changing of directions.
AERIAL: Where Duarte Rd. Meets and Curves Into Highland Ave.
A southward view shows something different than just a single-track grade crossing: It already has two new tracks laid through it.
Just to the west, it appears (“appears”) that a Foothill Extension station stop is being constructed.
A straight-on westward view:
Continued in Part N
Part “N” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
A westward telephoto from Highland Ave.:
A westward south side view:
A north side westward view now:
Continued in Part O
Part “O” (of J-Q, Overall A-Q)
The east side of the street:
A telephoto looking east, and the 605 Freeway transition bridges:
Continued in Part P
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