California High-Speed Rail Completes Major Fresno Underpass

The new Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass reconnects downtown Fresno with southwest neighborhoods and Chinatown.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 2:33pm

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The California High-Speed Rail Authority has announced the completion of a major underpass project in Fresno, California. The Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass spans over 1,000 feet and allows vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians to pass beneath existing freight tracks and the future high-speed rail line, restoring a vital east-west connection that had long been disrupted by rail traffic.

Why it matters

The underpass project is seen as a key milestone for the long-delayed California high-speed rail initiative, delivering local benefits in terms of improved safety, traffic flow, and access to businesses and services in the Fresno area. It also contributes to broader goals of reducing accidents, injuries, and fatalities along the high-speed rail corridor.

The details

The Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass is approximately 90 feet wide and carries traffic more than 15 feet below Union Pacific Railroad tracks and the future high-speed rail corridor. It includes two travel lanes, bike lanes, and protected pedestrian walkways in both directions. Local officials say the project restores a vital connection between southwest Fresno and downtown, improving access to businesses and services, particularly in the city's historic Chinatown neighborhood where trains previously blocked access for extended periods.

  • The underpass construction was completed on March 13, 2026.
  • The underpass is the first high-speed rail structure completed in 2026 and brings the total number of completed structures in California's Central Valley to 59.

The players

California High-Speed Rail Authority

The state agency responsible for planning, designing, building and operating the California high-speed rail system.

Ed Fenn

Chief of construction for the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

Miguel Arias

Fresno City Council Vice President.

Jan Minami

Director of the Chinatown Fresno Foundation.

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What they’re saying

“Completing this grade separation is a major milestone that improves pedestrian and vehicular safety within the city of Fresno, while keeping us on track for the next phase of construction.”

— Ed Fenn, Chief of construction

“The completion of the Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass restores a vital connection between Southwest Fresno and downtown along one of Fresno's major arterial roads. This project underscores the Authority's continued progress and transformative investment in our community.”

— Miguel Arias, Fresno City Council Vice President

“Trains no longer block access. The Chinatown Foundation and surrounding business owners love to see progress.”

— Jan Minami, Director, Chinatown Fresno Foundation

What’s next

The High-Speed Rail Authority says progress on remaining guideway construction is moving the project closer to laying the high-speed rail track later this year.

The takeaway

The completion of the Cesar Chavez Boulevard underpass in Fresno represents a significant milestone for California's high-speed rail initiative, delivering tangible local benefits in terms of improved connectivity, safety, and access to businesses and services, while also contributing to the broader goals of the statewide rail project.