Construction at major Fresno intersection creates maze of detours. When will it end?
Construction work at the perennially busy intersection of Shaw Avenue and Golden State Boulevard near Highway 99 has created multiple detours to build a new overpass for the California High-Speed Rail project.
The overpass being built along Shaw Avenue will take traffic over the Union Pacific Railroad crossing, Golden State Boulevard and future high-speed rail lines, High-Speed Rail Authority spokesperson Ramiro Diaz told The Bee in a statement.
The project is currently in the civil construction phase. The rail authority projects the opening of the overpass to traffic by mid-2026, but construction schedules are subject to change.
Separating roadway traffic from rail lines improves safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists while allowing high-speed trains to operate without conflict with street-level traffic, according to the CHSR.
What will the new overpass at Shaw and Golden State entail?
The overpass grade separation includes the construction of a bridge spanning both the high-speed rail tracks and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Beginning next year, new traffic signals will be installed at three new intersections, along with around 4,000 feet of new sidewalks and 3,000 feet of new bike lanes. Additionally, improvements will be made to the existing traffic signals at Shaw and Blythe avenues.
When complete, the overpass will be 457 feet long and 110 feet wide, featuring 6 travel lanes, three eastbound and three westbound, dedicated bike lanes and pedestrian access.
What detours and road closures are in place?
Currently, multiple detours allow for eastbound and westbound mobility while road closures are in place in the area of the overpass construction.
There are road closures along Weber Avenue between Jennifer and Gates avenues and along Grants Avenue between Jennifer and Weber avenues.
There is a traffic detour route in place, where drivers are encouraged to use the detour route.
The Shaw Avenue grade separation project is part of the larger Fresno-to-Merced high-speed rail segment. Overall, the overpass supports the broader goal of a faster, greener and more reliable high-speed rail system connecting the Central Valley, according to Diaz.
This story was originally published December 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM with the headline "Construction at major Fresno intersection creates maze of detours. When will it end?."