Trains began traversing the new San Juan Creek Bridge in San Juan Capistrano starting Monday, Oct. 27.
A newly constructed San Juan Creek Bridge in San Juan Capistrano is now in service following an operational cutover that took place over the weekend of Oct. 25-26. The new bridge replaced the original 1917 span and serves as a vital link along the Los Angeles–San Diego–San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) corridor, one of the busiest intercity rail lines in the U.S. The infrastructure upgrade marks a major milestone in the joint effort between Metrolink and the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to enhance reliability through this critical stretch of railroad. For riders on our Orange County and Inland Empire-Orange County lines, it’s a significant upgrade that will keep them moving for years to come.
Crews worked diligently on the bridge replacement construction.
The weekend transition required extensive coordination: more than 100 employees and contractors worked around the clock to realign track, install turnouts, destress and surface 3,100 feet of track, and transfer signal systems, accounting for more than 5,500 labor-hours. FlatironDragados was the primary contractor on the project, while Balfour Beatty facilitated signal work. Additional support was provided by RailPros, Herzog, AECOM, Pacific Railway Enterprises, Inc., Jacobs and Alstom.
The project was completed after 17 months of construction with a total investment of around $65 million. The new bridge meets modern engineering and safety standards, incorporating improved foundations and flood protection for San Juan Creek. That means better resilience during heavy-rain events and a stronger rail connection for the communities we serve. The longstanding 1917 bridge will be dismantled next spring, marking a fond farewell for its century-long tenure and the beginning of a fresh chapter for rail travel in South Orange County.