Gold Line bridge work set

The Gold Line Foothill Extension continues to chug along.

According to Foothill Extension Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian, the Authority recently issued a “Notice to Proceed” to Skanska USA Civil West and AECOM Technical Services to begin work on the Iconic Freeway Structure (IFS) — the bridge over the 210 Freeway. The contractor will spend the next several months finalizing design, obtaining permits, and hiring sub-contractors. Heavy construction is anticipated to begin early next year. A detailed schedule will be provided as the contractor begins work and provides an updated timeline.

This week the Authority received the project’s first payment of $10 million from Metro in compliance with the Funding Agreement. It will be used for expenses on Phase 2A (end of current route at Sierra Madre Villa station through Arcadia and on to Azusa). In addition to beginning work on the IFS, these funds will be used to continue preparation for the Alignment work.

Finally, the 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill, which passed through Congress late last week now moves to the Senate for a vote. Included in the Bill is $650,000 for Phase 2B (Azusa to Montclair). Congress members Judy Chu and Adam Schiff sponsored inclusion of the Foothill Extension funding in the Bill, which will be used to complete environmental review of the Phase 2B segment. If included in the final Bill, the $650,000 will allow the Authority the ability to clear the project under state and federal environmental guidelines, opening the project to funding opportunities at all levels. Once environmentally cleared, Phase 2B will be ready for funding and construction.

Balian says the remainder of August will be spent readying the Phase 2A Alignment Design-Build-Finance procurement package for release to the three pre-qualified proposers. Once issued, proposers will have approximately 180 days to prepare proposals on this $400 million project. The contract will be awarded in Spring 2011.