SBCTA Hosts Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes on Tour of Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge in the city of San Bernardino
July 12, 2024
In mid-June, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) hosted California State Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes on a tour of the Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge for an up-close view of recent construction activity.Assemblymember Reyes has long advocated for addressing the aging structure. She helped secure $13 million in funding, recognizing the need for a safe and modernized bridge for the surrounding communities and businesses.
The tour provided an opportunity for Assemblymember Reyes to see firsthand the progress being made to rebuild this vitally important and expansive bridge in the city of San Bernardino.
The walking tour included viewing the newly constructed columns that will support the bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railyard tracks and seeing the first set of overhead support beams, known as girders, installed in late May at the bridge’s southern end.
Since opening to the public in 1934, the Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge has been an iconic structure, bridging San Bernardino communities to the north and south and serving as a vital link for west end residents, visitors, students and businesses. To ensure the safety and longevity of the bridge, the City of San Bernardino and the California Department of Transportation partnered with SBCTA to rebuild the bridge.
SBCTA worked proactively to help the nearby communities maintain access to transit options and local businesses by partnering with Omnitrans to provide a free bus service during construction. Additionally, SBCTA partnered with local businesses to create a bilingual business brochure to highlight shopping and other ongoing commercial opportunities in the area.
Demolition of the old bridge took place in 2021, making way for BNSF to construct the necessary adjustments to allow for the future structure. The new bridge construction began in 2023 and upon completion in 2025 will be more than a quarter of a mile long and 80 feet wide, spanning 22 active railroad tracks in one of the largest railyards in the region.
The new and improved structure will accommodate wider travel lanes and sidewalks, a center median, and new bike lanes. When complete, westside San Bernardino residents, businesses and visitors will have a safe, reliable bridge that will continue to serve the community for generations to come. For more information about the Mt. Vernon Avenue Bridge project, the complimentary bus service provided by SBCTA and Omnitrans, and the bilingual business brochure, visit goSBCTA.com/MtVernonBridge.
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