Coachella road-rail grade separation project to kick off

Coachella road-rail grade separation project to kick off The California eastern desert cities of Indio and Coachella are set to break ground today on a $17.6 million bridge project aimed at smoothing traffic flow over freight trains moving through the area.

Rendering of the completed Dillion Road bridge. Courtesy of the City of Coachella.

   The bridge, when completed near the end of the year, will carry vehicle traffic on Dillon Road over Union Pacific rail tracks that run along Indio and Grapefruit boulevards in the city of Coachella, near its border with Indio.
   The area has experienced a tremendous increase in passenger and freight vehicle traffic. The 340-foot bridge is expected to ease some of the traffic delays centered around the existing road-rail crossing.
   While most of the funds for the project are coming from federal, state and railroad sources, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments is providing $2.88 million, and the cities of Coachella and Indio will each contribute about $500,000 each.
   In addition to the Coachella and Indio partners, groups also involved in the project include the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality fund and Union Pacific Railroad.