McKinley Street Grade Separation

McKinley Street serves as a key transportation corridor in Corona, where at-grade railroad crossings historically created congestion, delays, and safety concerns for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. To eliminate conflicts between roadway and rail traffic, the City of Corona advanced the construction of a new grade-separated crossing.

The project entailed constructing a new four-lane overhead grade separation at the BNSF Railway double tracks near the intersection of McKinley Street and Sampson Avenue in the City of Corona. The project boundaries stretched from the SR-91 interchange to Magnolia Avenue and involved modifications to four signalized intersections. The centerpiece of the project was a 300-foot-long single-span network-tied steel arch bridge that crosses the railroad tracks, Arlington Channel, and Sampson Avenue, supported by large-diameter CIDH piles. The project also included roadway widening, interchange ramp improvements, retaining walls, utility relocations, intersection upgrades, and local access enhancements.

As Construction Manager, FALCON, a CHA Company, implemented an innovative staging strategy that separated bridge fabrication from roadway construction, allowing major work activities to proceed concurrently. The team’s extensive coordination with BNSF Railway, state and local agencies, utility providers, and adjacent property owners helped minimize disruptions throughout construction.

The completed project eliminates delays caused by train crossings and enhances connectivity, creating a distinctive gateway structure for the City of Corona.