During its underpass groundbreaking Aug. 2011, the city used a flying pig theme on its invitations, buttons, pins, decorations and refreshments.
The $27 million underpass project, which was jointly funded through city, regional, state and federal dollars, will connect both sides of Ranchero Road under the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks.
Larry McCallon, president of regional transportation authority San Bernardino Associated Governments, said the underpass’ funding includes $10.4 million in regional funds for a project that Hesperia’s city fathers envisioned years ago.
The underpass is the first phase of a planned three-phase Ranchero Road Corridor project.
Construction of the Ranchero Road/Interstate 15 interchange, which broke ground in January, and the future widening of the road from the interchange to the underpass are also part of the multi-phase project.
Jane Dreher, spokeswoman for SANBAG, said the $59 million interchange project is well on its way to a completion date in early 2015.
“Crews have already started clearing the way for work on the ramps, realigned frontage roads and relocating utilities,” Dreher said. “Ramps will be constructed first and will serve as a temporary detour, as necessary, for bridge work over the mainline of the freeway.”
The city will continue to celebrate its anniversary in September, as it partners with the Hesperia Recreation and Park District to celebrate the district’s 65th Annual Hesperia Days festivities.
The grand-opening celebration for the underpass include a 5K walk/run, which begins at 8 a.m. followed by the ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. and classic car parade and children’s activities. For more information, or to register for the free walk/run, please visit www.cityofhesperia.us

BTW, the City of Hesperia has placed two web cams with time lapse capability in the project area. On Camera TWO the pixilated area hides a private residence. Just to the left of the blurred area is the path we use for our photography. http://www.cityofhesperia.us/index.aspx?NID=844 GGG

April 19: MEANWHILE, AT THE RANCHERO RD PROJECT: 2244: The Western wooden abutment forms are being removed and rebuilt to support the Eastern Abutment superstructure concrete pour. The dirt floor of the "pit" is being raised about a foot. Later, protective islands will be built to protect the columns. 2245: Close up of the City of Hesperia artwork in the concrete. 2246: BNSF 7712 with BNSF 6968 (mentioned on 2012 page, photos 2238-43) is finally WB at MP 48.

I have received a few more questions concerning the Ranchero project. Today I searched out my Construction Engineer Friends and got the following info:
-- The diesel hammer (Pile Driver) was built by Pileco of Houston, TX. http://www.bauer.de/export/shared/pdf/bma/products/905_631_1.pdf
-- The round steel column forms were in six half round pieces (in this case) and bolted together.
-- The steel forms were wrapped before the pour because the ambient temperature was forecasted to fall below 40 F.
-- The steel retaining walls, pilings and protective plastic have been / are being removed. The dirt floor has been raised and walls of "the Pit" are considered strong enough to stand alone. -- Construction of the falsework (support and forms) for the bridge deck should begin in the next week ---- or so.
-- We talked again about the weight and stresses, from trains and earthquakes, that this bridge will be required to withstand. It is one of the strongest structures, of this type, possible with today's technology. GGG

# 2738: After taking the Holiday month off from railfaning and visiting the Ranchero Rd project, this last weekend I decided to visit all available project areas. The only real way to explain my travels is to quickly label another Google map. # 2739: The entire road project from Position “A” --- looking East from the far Western end of the project. # 2740: You can’t hide! The Hesperia Web Cam caught me and the Cajon MUD-mobile at Position “B" --- our usual photographic location. # 2741: Looking back West from Position “B”. # 2742: Looking East from Position “B”. # 2743-44: Looking West and East from Position “C” (Summit Valley Rd). To get from “B” to “C” (about a quarter mile) required a drive of about six miles --- one of the reasons for the project. The position and shape of the future traffic control islands can be seen. # 2745: Shows the “fill” above the “ANTELOPE VALLEY WASH” from Position “D”. The middle box culvert is fifteen feet square and the other four are ten feet square each. Obviously, the “wash” handles a tremendous amount of runoff during our infrequent but heavy storms.
# 2746: The entire project from Position “E” looking West.  GGG