Brightline West, a US high-speed rail project, has begun "final phase design" work on both ends of its California-Nevada route. Brightline, which also owns and operates intercity services in Florida on the east coast of the United States, said this is the final preparation before construction begins on the west coast.

According to Brightline, work being done before the project officially breaks ground includes geotechnical drilling and sampling, utility tunnel laying, and land surveying.

Taking place within the concourse of Interstate 15 (I-15), the project aims to ease traffic congestion in the area by providing commuters with the opportunity to switch to rail mode. At this stage, the only traffic disruption should be limited to shoulder closures during daytime construction.

While the ground breaking is a little later than Brightline West's public timeline, the project will begin construction soon.

Brightline West will be a 218-mile all-electric line with trains traveling at about 300 kilometers per hour from its flagship station in Las Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, about 30 to 40 miles from Los Angeles. There it will be connected to Southern California Metrolink service. Editor/Xu Shengpeng