Cinch Way Pedestrian Bridge Railroad Crossing

A 190-foot prefabricated weathering steel pedestrian bridge rises over Utah Transit Authority (UTA) FrontRunner and Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Provo Subdivision rail lines and rights-of-way, replacing the private at-grade crossing at Cinch Way and 1300 West in Bluffdale, Utah. Delivered via CMGC for the City of Bluffdale, the structure features a 122-foot clear span, concrete deck, 24-foot vertical rail clearance, and ADA-accessible approach ramps on either side of the railroad corridor. The project also relocates the existing rail maintenance access point to a new dedicated facility north of the bridge. 

Need 

The existing at-grade crossing at Cinch Way and 1300 West placed pedestrians and local students in direct conflict with active freight and high-speed commuter rail traffic. A grade-separated crossing permanently eliminates this hazard, establishing a dedicated, safe path over both active rail corridors that connects Bluffdale neighborhoods to Hidden Valley Middle School and the surrounding community. 

Work

• Building a free-standing, 190-foot prefabricated weathering steel truss pedestrian bridge with a 12-foot clear path and full-height security fencing 
• Constructing reinforced concrete substructures, spread footings, driven pipe pile abutments, and ADA-compliant switchback ramps with Verti-Block retaining walls on both sides of the tracks 
• Permanently decommissioning and removing the existing private at-grade railroad crossing, including track panels, crossing surfaces, and signal gate mechanisms 
• Relocating the UTA rail maintenance access road and gate north of the new pedestrian structure along the right-of-way 
• Installing 10-foot paved shared-use trail connections, concrete sidewalk tie-ins, stormwater drainage infrastructure, and security bollards 

Impact  

Pedestrians and residents gain a safe, grade-separated route over active commuter and freight rail lines, eliminating train-pedestrian conflict risks, supporting Safe Routes to School for Hidden Valley Middle School, and seamlessly integrating local neighborhoods with the regional trail network. 

Collaboration 

Delivered for the City of Bluffdale, the Cinch Way Pedestrian Bridge was built by the Ralph L. Wadsworth and Stacy Witbeck Joint Venture in partnership with lead designer WSP USA and geotechnical engineer GeoStrata.  

Delivery involved extensive rail corridor and agency coordination with UTA, UPRR, UDOT, and Jordan School District, alongside key partners including Contech Engineered Solutions for the prefabricated truss bridge, local materials and precast suppliers, and regional utility providers.