High-Speed Rail CP-1
The California High-Speed Rail CP-1 project constructed 32 miles of high-speed rail guideway from Madera County to south Fresno, the longest and most complex segment of the Central Valley program. Work included 33 structures, three major viaducts, grade separations, below-grade trenches, a highway realignment, and extensive utility and railroad relocations.
Overview.
Construction Package 1 delivered the first and most complex segment of California's high-speed rail construction program — a 32-mile corridor from Avenue 19 in Madera County to East American Avenue in south Fresno County. The alignment crosses the Fresno River, the San Joaquin River, State Route 99, and the Union Pacific Railroad Fresno Subdivision, passing through the heart of downtown Fresno. The design-build contract was executed by TPZP, a joint venture of Tutor Perini Corporation, Zachry Construction Corporation, and Parsons Corporation. Below is a detailed breakdown of the project:
Project goals.
The primary objectives of the CP-1 construction were:
To construct 32 miles of high-speed rail guideway including 33 structures — viaducts, grade separations, trenches, and a tunnel — through urban and agricultural terrain.
To build three major river and highway viaducts including the signature San Joaquin River Viaduct and the Cedar Viaduct spanning SR-99.
To realign State Route 99 approximately 100 feet west while maintaining continuous traffic flow through the construction zone.
To coordinate construction adjacent to the active Union Pacific Railroad freight corridor, requiring multiple temporary track relocations and over 182 railroad approvals.
"CP-1 broke ground first for the entire California high-speed rail program. The structures built here — from the Fresno River Viaduct to the San Joaquin River crossing — represent some of the most complex urban rail infrastructure ever constructed in the state."
Key solutions implemented.
Construction began with the Fresno River Viaduct, a 1,600-foot structure that became the first permanent piece of infrastructure built for the California high-speed rail program. This was followed by 19 grade separations across the alignment, expanded from the original 12 to address additional road crossings and community access needs identified during design development.
The San Joaquin River Viaduct and Pergola, stretching 4,741 feet with a dramatic 210-foot double concrete arch span over the river, required 198 precast girders each weighing 156,000 pounds and measuring 121 feet long. Foundation performance under seismic conditions was validated through statnamic load testing of the drilled-shaft foundations.
The Cedar Viaduct extends 3,700 feet — approximately three-quarters of a mile — carrying the alignment over SR-99, Cedar Avenue, and North Avenue with dual cast-in-place arches spanning 179 feet each at 40 feet tall. Two trench sections and one tunnel were constructed in the urban core where the alignment passes below grade through downtown Fresno.
The SR-99 realignment shifted the active state highway approximately 100 feet west between Ashlan and Clinton Avenues while maintaining continuous traffic operations. Three Union Pacific Railroad shoofly detours totaling over 14,000 feet of temporary track were constructed to enable work adjacent to the active freight corridor, with construction windows constrained by UPRR review cycles and seasonal shipping restrictions.
Outcomes achieved.
Structures completed:
21 of 33 structures finished as of late 2025, with remaining structures under active construction.Major viaducts:
Three landmark structures — Fresno River Viaduct (1,600 ft), San Joaquin River Viaduct and Pergola (4,741 ft), and Cedar Viaduct (3,700 ft).Railroad coordination:
Over 182 Union Pacific Railroad approvals obtained; three shoofly detours totaling 14,000+ feet of temporary track constructed.Highway realignment:
SR-99 shifted 100 feet west while maintaining traffic flow, completed February 2019.Jobs created:
3,429 construction jobs in Fresno County and 442 in Madera County, with up to 1,700 workers per day at peak activity.
CP-1 forms the northern anchor of the 119-mile Central Valley high-speed rail spine and includes the program's most complex urban construction zone. The segment will connect future extensions north toward Merced and Sacramento with the southern alignment toward Bakersfield and Los Angeles.
