'Hazardous' rail crossing in Santa Fe Springs to get major overhaul

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (KABC) -- Plans are moving forward for a major overhaul of a Santa Fe Springs railroad crossing, which has been dubbed by the California Public Utilities Commission as the "most hazardous" such intersection in the state.

According to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 22 collisions occurred at Rosecrans and Marquardt avenues between 2013 and 2015, leaving four people dead and six others injured.

About 45,000 vehicles and 130 trains pass through the grade crossing each day, Metro said.

On Thursday, Rep. Linda Sanchez announced a $15-million grant contribution to help Metro a $137.2-million vehicle overpass at the intersection. The bridge will also be funded by state measures and propositions.

"It's going to improve the traffic flow. It's going to make the roads safer," Sanchez said. "It's going to make it more efficient and cleaner as we move more freight."

After the overhaul, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said, people will "forget there's even a train there, besides kids counting the number of train cars or a horn or something."

Construction of the overpass is scheduled to begin in January 2019. The project is expected to be completed in two years.