Belmont Avenue Grade Separation

This April, crews are working overnight to place 14 of the 28 pre-cast concrete girders needed for the superstructure of the Belmont Avenue Grade Separation. These girders range from 148 to 158-feet long, are nearly 6-feet tall, and can weigh as much as 185,000 lbs. each. Crews have completed the foundation for the abutment on the east side of the structure and are currently installing rebar and forming the abutment wall.

At the Belmont Avenue Grade Separation, crews recently completed the abutment wall on the west side of the overpass. Abutment walls are part of the substructure of a bridge, including overpasses, and provide vertical and lateral support from the superstructure to the foundation. These walls also act as retaining walls by retaining embankment that will be placed in the future. Crews have also completed a few columns and are now working on the bent cap. A bent cap is an intermediate support that sits on top of a group of piles to help disperse lateral and vertical loads. The bent cap supports the girders and transfers loads to the bent columns. To the east, crews are working on several utility relocations including relocating PG&E, water and storm drains.

The Belmont Avenue Grade Separation is the newest construction site in Construction Package 1. Community meetings in English and Spanish were held over the summer to inform the public and key stakeholders regarding the latest structure. Work has kicked off on the west side of the Union Pacific tracks and utility relocations continue on the east side.