Riverside County: Haruba grade‑separation excavation and bridge foundations underway; undercrossing due 2027

Riverside County Transportation told the Jurupa Valley City Council that construction on the Haruba (Van Buren) grade‑separation project has advanced to deep excavation and foundation work for the new Union Pacific bridge, with permanent tracks slated for installation later this year and a targeted undercrossing opening in 2027.

"This is a grade separation that will separate the train traffic from vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists," John Ashlock, Construction Division Manager for Riverside County Transportation, told the council. He described completed temporary railroad tracks and traffic signal work, excavation of the bridge footprint (about 25–30 feet deep in places) and the upcoming placing of forms and rebar for abutments and bridge columns.

Ashlock told council construction costs are approximately $117,000,000 for the construction portion and about $183,000,000 overall. "We are still seeking some funding," he said, adding that the project was never fully funded and that staff continues to work with RCTC to secure final dollars. He also said coordination with Union Pacific Railroad was critical but that work to date had gone well and that site work will include nighttime operations when necessary to complete formwork and concrete pours.

The project includes a pump station to remove water from the sump beneath the railroad and Van Buren; that pump station is nearly complete and only requires tie‑ins. The county also highlighted public outreach efforts: a social media campaign (noted cost about $2,000) reached more than 127,000 geolocated residents and drove over 5,000 visits to the project website, with more than 4,000 engagements and 118 new contacts added to an email list.

Council members asked about schedule risks. Ashlock cited Union Pacific crew availability and prior concerns about track work near the railroad’s fourth‑quarter shutdown as the primary operational risk but said the county had coordinated to meet critical milestones. He said contractors would likely perform some night work to accelerate formwork and concrete pours for columns and abutments.

The county provided a project website and hotline for updates and encouraged residents to sign up for email notifications. The work will ultimately separate train movements from Van Buren Boulevard traffic, with the permanent bridge and undercrossing scheduled to open as the project completes in 2027.