Precast girders installed for Batiquitos Lagoon double-track bridge in San Diego

California Construction News staff writer

San Diego County’s North Coast Corridor project, Segment 7 – Batiquitos Lagoon Double Track, reached a key milestone with the successful installation of precast concrete girders for the new bridge over the lagoon.

The project replaces a wooden trestle bridge built in the 1940s and adds 0.6 miles of second rail track between La Costa Avenue in Encinitas and Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad. The double tracking will improve reliability and capacity along this busy section of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) rail corridor.

Each girder, approximately 120,000 pounds, was placed using a 500-ton crane mobilized on a temporary wooden trestle bridge designed and built by the project team. The operation demonstrated exceptional coordination, pre-planning and execution by all involved.

Crews completed this complex work while trains continued operating on the existing track located next to the new bridge, showcasing the team’s commitment to safety and uninterrupted rail service.

Upon completion, the project will enhance passenger and freight services while improving the resilience of coastal rail infrastructure in San Diego.