CALIFORNIA

HIGH-SPEED RAIL SYSTEM

FS Engineering, acting as a sub-consultant to the Louis Berger Group, was part of the design team supporting the Salini Impregilo and Security Paving contracting joint venture for the tender design of "Design & Build Contract Package 4" of the California High-Speed Rail network. The engagement commenced with the tender launch on 27 May 2015 and concluded with the submission of the bid in mid-October 2015.

Due to the scale of this ambitious project, which crosses highly diverse geographical, environmental, and economic regions of California, the California High-Speed Rail Authority divided the new network into multiple construction sections and packages. Contract Package 4 is located within Tulare and Kern counties, passing through the cities of Shafter and Wasco, and encompassed the design and construction of approximately 35 km of civil infrastructure. Engineered for a design speed of 350 km/h, this section features viaducts and embankments designed to minimise impacts on local communities and provide grade-separated crossings over the conventional BNSF railway line.

The project forms part of the backbone of the future California High-Speed Rail network within the Central Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield, bridging the gap ahead of the more challenging connections to San Francisco in the north and Los Angeles in the south.

The contract was completed in December 2015.