County says Harupa Road grade-separation bridge on schedule; tracks to be relocated by year's end

John Ashlock, construction division manager for the Riverside County Transportation Department, gave a project update on the Harupa/Haruba Road grade separation, reporting what he described as steady progress on the Stage 1 bridge foundations and abutments. "The bridge is scheduled to be complete by this fall," Ashlock said, and the county aims to have the new tracks installed and operational by the end of the year so Union Pacific can make final connections.

Ashlock showed progress photos and described upcoming work: girders already began arriving, punch-list items at Van Buren and Pedley intersections are nearly finished, and stage-2 work on the Van Buren bridge will follow track relocation and related railroad operations. He also described a summer social-media outreach campaign (harupagradeseparation) and a hotline for business and resident questions; the campaign produced thousands of video views in early July.

Council members pressed the county on visibility of the signal heads at Pedley and Harupa (sightline complaints) and on signage that could reduce unsafe right turns. Ashlock said the project team is working with the signal manufacturer and the railroad to adjust heads or add signage where feasible and that coordination with CPUC and Union Pacific is ongoing.

On business impacts, Ashlock said the county will consider credible claims for economic losses and has asked businesses to provide documentation; if the county determines claims meet the program's requirements, they will be evaluated by the right-of-way group and real-estate staff. The council thanked the county for the update and asked staff to continue periodic reports.

No formal council action was taken on the presentation; staff and county indicated they will return with subsequent reports as work progresses.