Introduction
As part of an infrastructure improvement plan to reduce traffic congestion, workers recently moved a 290-foot-long arch bridge to its final location in Corona, California. Known as the McKinley Bridge, this project aims to separate road and rail traffic to minimize delays at the railway crossing. Currently, traffic experiences 2 hours and 35 minutes of daily delays, and projections indicate this could exceed 4 hours in the coming years.
Project Details
The project began in early 2022 and is expected to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025. Its objective is to elevate McKinley Street over two main railway tracks and Sampson Avenue in the vicinity of the McKinley Bridge in Corona, easing congestion and improving traffic flow.
Transport Execution
Workers constructed the arched bridge deck at a site north of its final location and then transported it overnight using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs).The transport process involved crossing:
- Sampson Avenue
- The Arlington Flood Control Channel
- Railway tracks
Engineering and Analysis
The project required 3D analysis and bridge information modeling to ensure:
- Structural stability during transport
- The arch’s capacity to withstand variable loads
- Stress distribution caused by differential movements during transportation from north of McKinley Bridge in Corona
Additionally, temporary support structures were used to stabilize the bridge throughout the process, along with the design of temporary crossings for the transporters.
Summary Table
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Project Location | Corona, California |
| Bridge Length | 290 feet |
| Project Start | Early 2022 |
| Expected Completion | Late 2024 – Early 2025 |
| Objective | Grade separation to reduce congestion |
| Technologies Used | SPMTs, 3D analysis, bridge information modeling |
| Challenges | Crossing Sampson Avenue, Arlington Channel, and railway tracks |
Conclusion
This project marks a significant step in improving traffic flow and reducing railway-related delays in the area. Once completed next year, the McKinley Bridge in Corona will significantly alleviate traffic congestion by improving road conditions.
