CITY OF CORONA: PUBLIC WORKS
Office:
Fax:
951.736.2266
951.279.3627
400 S. Vicentia Ave., Corona, California 92882
City Hall Online All The Time – www.DiscoverCorona.com
For Immediate Release
February 14, 2017
CORONA PUBLIC WORKS TEAM WINS 2017 ACEC CALIFORNIA ENGINEERING
EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR AUTO CENTER DRIVE GRADE SEPARATION
Corona, CA—The City of Corona’s Public Works Team received an Engineering Excellence Award for their Auto
Center Drive Grade Separation Project. Lead by Senior Engineer Linda Bazmi, the project constructed a four-lane
overcrossing above operational Burlington Northern and Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad tracks, and improves vehicular
and pedestrian safety by separating trains from highway and foot traffic.
The overpass was designed with future enhancements
in mind and allows for the addition of two more active
railroad tracks, which would increase the total rail
capacity from two to four tracks. The new
overcrossing also benefits daily commuters with
improved travel times that are up to 10-15 minutes
faster by eliminating the need for motorist to wait for
passing trains, which could cause up to 25-minute wait
times at the previous at-grade crossing.
“I was honored to participate in the Auto Center
Grade Separation ribbon cutting event,” said Eric
Linder, Assembly Member, 60th Assembly District. “I cannot count the number of times I’ve been late to a
meeting because I got stuck at this crossing.”
A combination of Construction Management and Public Outreach services were implemented to complete the
four-lane overcrossing. The technical team helped save the City $1.3 million and reduced the contract time by two
months with proposed changes to the staging and construction before the contractor bidding process began and
vigilant project oversight throughout construction. The team worked diligently to ensure the busy Auto Center
Drive remained open to the traveling public, train services were uninterrupted, and impacts to surrounding
businesses and communities were minimized throughout the life of the project.
By the end of the project, the public works team advanced the contract time by two months, maintained zero
contractor delays, ensured uninterrupted access to businesses, communicated with over 100 businesses before
and during construction, and developed and distributed project maps and detours.
About the City of Corona: Corona is located adjacent to Orange County California at the junction of the 91 and 15
freeways with a population of more than 160,000 residents. For more information regarding The City of Corona
visit www.DiscoverCorona.com.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Linda Bazmi | Senior Engineer
City of Corona Public Works Dept.
951-739-4960
[email protected]
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