The 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension is now 50 percent complete, according to the Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, which is building the Pasadena-to-Azusa/Glendora border project.

Below are an awesome collection of aerial photos taken in recent days by the Construction Authority. The news release — with a lot of good info — follows the photographs.

We’ll go from west to east with the pics, starting in eastern Pasadena — click on any of the photos to see them larger:

Photos: Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority.

Above is the work being done to extend the Gold Line’s tracks beyond the current terminus at Sierra Madre Villa in Pasadena.

A view looking east and south of the Gold Line’s right-of-way leaving the median of the 210 freeway and headed toward downtown Arcadia via the new Basket Bridge over the 210’s eastbound lanes.

The new bridge carrying the Gold Line tracks over busy Santa Anita Avenue. The old tracks were at street level.

The Arcadia station and parking lot taking shape. The station is right behind the popular REI store with the rest of downtown Arcadia a short walk south on First Street, which runs along the bottom of this photo.

A closer view of the tracks crossing First Street in downtown Arcadia.

The platforms for the Monrovia station and nearby parking. The old Santa Fe depot is at bottom left — the platforms for the Gold Line sit to the west. That’s the intersection of Duarte Road and Myrtle Avenue at bottom left.

The Myrtle Avenue crossing in Monrovia.

The new rail car maintenance campus in Monrovia that is between the 210 freeway, at left, and Duarte Road.

The Duarte station at Duarte Road and Highland Avenue. City of Hope is just south of the tracks.

The tracks east of Highland Avenue in Duarte headed toward the 605 freeway and Irwindale.

The new rail bridge over the San Gabriel River in Irwindale.

The location of the future Irwindale station — south of the 210 and east of Irwindale Avenue.

BNSF train crossing Azusa Avenue on relocated freight track in Azusa.

Another view of the old right-of-way — which the Gold Line will use — and the new freight track.

The Gold Line tracks looking east from the bridge over Foothill Boulevard in Azusa.

The Gold Line platforms in downtown Azusa next to the old Santa Fe depot along with the newly realigned freight track.

The newly realigned freight track in Azusa adjacent to the platform foundations for the station that will serve Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University, which are out of view at the bottom of the photo.

And here is the news release from the Construction Authority:

FOOTHILL EXTENSION LIGHT RAIL PROJECT FROM PASADENA TO AZUSA SURPASSES 50% COMPLETION

Award-Winning Measure R Light Rail Project Remains On-Schedule and On-Budget

MONROVIA, CA – The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) announced today that the 11.5-mile Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension light rail project from Pasadena to Azusa is now more than halfway to project completion. When completed, the nearly $1 billion Measure R project will include six new light rail stations with intermodal parking facilities in the cities of Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa; two dozen new and rebuilt bridge structures; 14 at-grade street crossings; 3.6-miles of relocated freight track within a shared corridor with BNSF Railway; and a 24-acre, $265 million Operations Campus to house up to 84 light rail vehicles.

“We were the first Measure R rail project to break ground, and we have stayed on-schedule and on-budget since we began work in 2010,” commented Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian on the milestone. “We still have a significant way to go to substantial completion, but the progress already made provides the confidence that we will be able to meet our schedule and deliver this regionally significant project on time and on budget.”

All three design-build projects have been awarded for the project: (1) the $18.6 million Gold Line Bridge to Skanska USA; (2) the $486 million Pasadena to Azusa Alignment to Foothill Transit Constructors – a Kiewit-Parsons Joint Ventura (FTC); and (3) the $48.7 million Intermodal Parking and Enhancements to Webcor.  The Gold Line Bridge was completed on time and on budget in late 2012, and was recognized in 2013 with five prestigious industry awards for its design and construction.

The largest contract – the $486 million Pasadena to Azusa Alignment – is being designed and built by FTC, and is also on-schedule and on-budget. Since work began in early 2012, FTC has utilized nearly 500,000 work hours on the project and has now surpassed 50% completion. To date, eight at-grade street crossings, 15 bridge structures, 40% of the Operations Campus, and 70% of the utility work has been completed. The freight track between San Gabriel Ave in Azusa and the Glendora city border has been fully realigned to its new position south of the future light rail tracks, more than half of the Overhead Catenary System foundations have been put in place, and light rail track is starting to be installed. Importantly, of the nearly half million work hours completed, none have been lost due to injury.

“The excitement is building, as it becomes more and more apparent that the Gold Line will soon be arriving in these corridor cities,” added Balian. “As each bridge is completed, station canopy installed, or at-grade crossing re-opened following installation of rail improvements, our progress is evident to the community and to our city officials. We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation as we build this project.”

Just 18 months from now, the Alignment and Parking contracts will be completed. The Construction Authority anticipates having the Operations Campus ready for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in March 2015, and the remainder of the project turned over to Metro in September 2015 for testing and pre-revenue service. Metro will decide when the project opens for passenger service.

View a photo gallery of 50% images: www.foothillextension.org/news/media-resources/50-percent-photos/

Here is what the project’s corridor mayors are saying about the 50% project milestone:

“I am extremely impressed as I watch the Gold Line being built in Azusa. Crews are nearly complete with the enormous undertaking of moving miles of freight track into its new position; while also building or rebuilding nine rail bridges and completing new street crossings across the city. Work has recently begun on our two future stations, and soundwalls are now under construction along the length of the rail corridor. I am confident that the project is more than halfway complete in our city, and I applaud the Construction Authority and their contractor for a remarkably smooth job so far. Keep up the good work.”

–          Mayor Joseph Rocha, City of Azusa

“Monrovia residents are patiently accepting the challenges brought by construction, because we all eagerly anticipate the Gold Line arriving in our city. The excitement is certainly building, especially now that we see the Monrovia station and parking facility starting to take shape.  Our city continues to move forward on the plans for our Station Square development, including the largest public works project in our history that will be built up literally around the Monrovia Gold Line station.”

–          Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, City of Monrovia

“Construction of the Gold Line has gone very well in Arcadia, since the project broke ground at Newcastle Park in June 2010. The Gold Line Bridge over the eastbound I-210 Freeway has won awards for its’ unique design and engineering, and the three other rail bridges in the city are also quite impressive. The Construction Authority and their contractor have done an excellent job making sure that the light rail project fits aesthetically into our city so well that I believe it is going to feel like the train never left Arcadia.”

–          Mayor Mickey Segal, City of Arcadia

“The 50% completion of the Gold Line to Duarte marks a triumphant shift in transit options for Duarte residents.  We look forward to 100% completion when we can ride the Gold Line into Pasadena and LA.  The canopy structures are already installed at our beautiful station, and light rail track is being laid just a few hundred feet to the east.  I look forward to celebrating the completion of the Duarte/City of Hope station just a few short months from now.”

–          Mayor Liz Reilly, City of Duarte

“I have watched the Gold Line construction throughout the 11.5-mile corridor over the last year. The work is moving quickly and is already having an impact on the area. With so many workers coming in and out of Irwindale daily, I believe that reaching 50% helps them realize that help is truly on its way. Soon they will be able to utilize the new rail line to get to and from work, and allow our city to grow in new and more sustainable ways.”

–          Mayor Mark A. Breceda, City of Irwindale

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About the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension – The Foothill Extension is a nearly $2 billion, 24-mile extension of the Metro Gold Line light rail system, being overseen by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, an independent transportation planning and construction agency. The project is planned in two segments – Pasadena to Azusa and Azusa to Montclair. The Pasadena to Azusa segment is fully funded by Los Angeles County’s Measure R and is on schedule to be completed in September 2015, when it will be turned over to Metro for testing and pre-revenue service. Measure R is funding the majority of the cost associated with the upcoming advanced conceptual engineering and environmental work for the Azusa to Montclair segment (San Bernardino County will fund their portion of the work). The Construction Authority issued a Request for Proposals for this work in January 2014, and anticipates awarding a contract for the 18-month design and environmental work in April. The Construction Authority continues to work with Metro to seek the nearly $1 billion needed to construct the Azusa to Montclair segment.