CALIFORNIA HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT

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Location: Madera to Fresno, California (32-mile corridor)

Owner: California High-Speed Rail Authority

Project Type: Design-Build Infrastructure | Utility Coordination | Civil Design Support

Size: 32-mile Corridor

Construction Package 1 (CP 1) was the first major design-build contract awarded under California’s High-Speed Rail initiative. Spanning 32 miles from Avenue 19 in Madera County to East American Avenue in Fresno County, the corridor includes urban segments through downtown Fresno and incorporates a wide range of complex infrastructure components.

Major project elements include:

• 12 roadway and railroad grade separations
• Two mainline viaducts
• One tunnel
• Realignment of existing railroad tracks
• Utility and roadway relocations
• Two trench sections
• A major river crossing over the San Joaquin River

NGCE’s Role and Contributions:

NGCE provided extensive engineering, coordination, and field support throughout the life of CP 1, with services that included:

• Civil design support, including alignment coordination and detailed utility conflict analysis
• Utility research, conflict resolution, and coordination with key public agencies such as Caltrans, Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District, Fresno Irrigation District, and Madera Irrigation District
• Engineering and technical support for jack-and-bore operations along the UPRR corridor to accommodate critical sewer, water, and storm drain relocations
• Coordination of major telecom infrastructure relocations, involving Sprint, Comcast, Level 3, and AT&T
• Preparation and review of submittals, RFIs, and constructability assessments to support construction and reduce field risk
• Cost estimating for utility relocation strategies and value-based design alternatives
• BIM plan verification and multi-discipline design package integration, helping maintain consistency across teams and project phases

In addition, NGCE was responsible for the development and coordination of more than 300 construction work plans requiring review and approval by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), San Joaquin Valley Railroad (SJVRR), and BNSF. These work plans were essential for construction activities impacting or adjacent to active rail corridors, and covered a wide range of field needs, including:

• Shoring and excavation plans for safe trenching operations
• Utility bypass plans to maintain service continuity
• Crane lift plans for equipment placement near active rail infrastructure
• Stormwater pollution prevention and erosion control plans in compliance with regulatory standards

Some plans were fully developed and engineered in-house by NGCE; others were prepared in close coordination with professional engineers and subcontractors. All were delivered in compliance with railroad and project requirements, through close collaboration with the prime contractor and design teams.

NGCE’s ability to manage high volumes of technically complex submittals - while maintaining speed, accuracy, and compliance - played a key role in advancing one of the most complex and high-profile infrastructure efforts in California’s history.