San Juan Creek railroad bridge is set to be demolished. Here’s what to expect

Beginning construction in April, the railroad bridge over San Juan Creek is set to be demolished and replaced with a new structure, causing potential delays for rail commuters and shuttering a nearby bike trail.

The more than a century-old railroad bridge in San Juan Capistrano will be replaced with a three-span girder bridge in coordination with the Orange County Transportation Authority and Metrolink, a project expected to be completed by late 2026.

The bridge will be demolished and a new one constructed just west of the existing structure. A new foundation will be constructed on top of the existing bridge for a potential second one in the future; albeit, there are no plans yet in the works for a second structure, said OCTA Spokesperson Eric Carpenter.

During construction, train delays — for commuter and freight service — are expected, but the San Juan Creek Bridge will remain open and operational until the new structure is finished.

“There is no planned service disruption as this bridge is being built,” said Carpenter. “While the construction could require a brief, overnight closure, passengers would see minimal, if any, disruption to regular service.”

Delays and adjustments to the rail service will be posted on Metrolink’s website.

For now, the streets around the railroad bridge — Del Obispo, Camino Capistrano and Paseo Adelanto — are not expected to be closed during construction, but that could be subject to change, said Carpenter. Additionally, the adjacent Descanso Park is expected to remain open.

The San Juan Creek walking and bike trail will have to close during the construction from Camino Capistrano to Descanso Park, however.

The trail is expected to be closed for up to 30 months, said Carpenter, and a detour route will be installed on Del Obispo and Camino Capistrano as well as Trabuco Trail. Officials don’t have a date yet for when the trail will close.

The bridge is being replaced to “enhance safety, reduce maintenance needs and meet current design and bridge load standards,” said Carpenter.

The total cost for the replacement project is estimated at $65.6 million. The project is funded by $1.4 million in local sales tax dollars for transportation improvements, administered by OCTA, as well as $22.9 million in state funds and $41.6 million in federal funds, said Carpenter.

Aside from planned construction projects, the LOSSAN rail corridor has experienced many delays in recent years — and weeks — due to landslides.

Last week, a landslide caused a slope failure and halted rail service around San Clemente, just a few miles south of the San Juan Creek railroad bridge. That marked the fifth service interruption in three years along this stretch due to landslides, according to OCTA.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 31, service is not operating between Laguna Niguel and Oceanside, which includes the San Juan Capistrano station and San Juan Creek railroad bridge, due to the falling debris.

“We don’t anticipate the emergency work in San Clemente having any impact on the timeline on the San Juan Creek Bridge construction project,” said Carpenter. “Both are important to maintaining service on the line and keeping this vital rail line operating for years to come.”

Built in 1917, the San Juan Creek railroad bridge services Metrolink, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner and various freight trains.

An estimated 500 passengers either board or disembark Metrolink trains at the San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente and Oceanside stations. On weekdays, an estimated 14 trains operate through the area and another 12 on weekends, Metrolink spokesperson Scott Johnson said. Amtrak runs 10 northbound and 10 southbound trains through the area daily.

More information about the project can be found on OCTA’s website.