SANDAG Begins 3 Days Of Work On North County Commuter Station

NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY -- San Diego Association of Governments rail crews began three days of early morning and nighttime work on Thursday to continue a project that's making improvements to the Poinsettia commuter rail station in Carlsbad.

Crews will continue construction of a new rail bridge, a pedestrian undercrossing, and will perform welding work along the eastern track between the station's east and west platforms. The work will require the use of heavy machinery and nearby residents are likely to notice construction-related noise, lights and dust during the work period, according to SANDAG.

In addition to the construction of the rail bridge and the undercrossing, the $33.7 million Poinsettia Station Improvements Project includes the installation of longer passenger platforms, new fencing between the station's tracks and a relocation of a section of existing rail track.

The project will renovate the Poinsettia Station, located in the City of Carlsbad, to improve traveler wait times, provide easier access, reduce train delays, enhance pedestrian safety, and upgrade station amenities. Improvements include lengthening and elevating passenger platforms, installing a fence between the tracks, replacing the existing at-grade rail crossings with a grade separated undercrossing, and relocating existing tracks.

Once complete, the undercrossing will replace the existing at-grade rail crossings and include stairways and ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act on either side of the station's tracks.

City News Service contributed to this report.