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Post by Gokhan on Dec 7, 2012 10:42:52 GMT -8
... and they started erecting the forms for the new National/Palms/Exposition bridge west abutment yesterday.
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 11, 2012 18:22:57 GMT -8
... and today they erected the cage for the single column for the new Palms bridge, located at the NW corner of the intersection.
The west abutment and this single column should be cast in about a week.
Therefore, in about a week, they will be ready to lay the falsework for the bridge superstructure!
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 11, 2012 18:24:43 GMT -8
Now, if only they could build the Venice bridge on-time, they can start train testing in mid-2014 and open the line as early as mid-2015...
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Dec 12, 2012 7:03:03 GMT -8
From our intrepid Expo line fan Dwight Sturtevant in the field: Heard today from Skanska crew member that:- The Olympic Bridge falsework will start Dec 16th
- Sepulveda Blvd falsework will start in 2 to 3 weeks
- Next week 8 foundation holes for the bridge over Sawtelle and Pico will start.
- Between now and the end of January we'll see falsework on two bridges.
- Should start seeing pre-cast girders at Centinela
- Pico and Bundy should be ready for falsework by end of February - early March.
- The cast in place retaining wall is progressing nicely at National/Palms
- Iron workers were at Olympic/Bundy, Sepulveda, & National/Palms. I counted 7 different crews of at least 7 guys each working away. Progress is really moving.
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Post by carter on Dec 12, 2012 9:50:14 GMT -8
Does anyone have a link to the latest engineering specs handy? I'm trying to remember which parts of the line are above grade.
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 12, 2012 10:03:28 GMT -8
Does anyone have a link to the latest engineering specs handy? I'm trying to remember which parts of the line are above grade. Robertson, Venice, National, Motor, I-10 (underpass), Dunleer Drive (underpass), Sepulveda, I-405 (underpass), Sawtelle, Pico, Bundy, Centinela, Cloverfield, and Olympic. The only signal-controlled segment is between 17th/Colorado and 5th/Colorado, both inclusive. The rest of the right-of-way is entirely secluded through grade-separation, fences, or crossing gates, and the trains don't slow down or stop.
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 12, 2012 10:15:11 GMT -8
Don't forget that the falsework for the Palms bridge will also start in a few weeks. This morning they were pumping concrete into the base of the rebar cage for the column of the bridge. Concrete sets in a day or two and then they will put the forms around it and cast the column.
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Post by darrell on Dec 15, 2012 9:07:05 GMT -8
New photos from last Tuesday (12/11) At Cloverfield, rebar cages are ready for two columns, a third is assembled, and forms are going up. I presume this coral tree is being moved for the fourth column in the median of Olympic Blvd. You can see the abutment behind the backhoe. The winter grass shone green from Selby, west of Overland. Looks like a big slurry pour just west of Overland. Wonder what was excavated there? Perhaps a connection to the box storm drain below Overland? Like the sign on National at Clarington! Rebar for the big retaining wall behind Price Self Storage, across from Clarington. East abutment is complete at National, forms are up for the west one, and the rebar cage for the column is visible. Detail of the column.
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Post by metrocenter on Dec 15, 2012 12:14:19 GMT -8
Great pictures and updates guys! I'm impressed by how fast the construction of this line is progressing.
I only wish work on the Regional Connector could get moving at this pace: I'm looking forward to all the Metro lines finally connecting in (and flowing through) Downtown L.A.
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 15, 2012 12:22:41 GMT -8
I presume this coral tree is being moved for the fourth column in the median of Olympic Blvd. It looks like the last remaining piece of the original Pacific Electric railroad track in the median of Olympic Blvd is also going away because of the new column. Is this correct?
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Post by darrell on Dec 15, 2012 17:02:06 GMT -8
It looks like the last remaining piece of the original Pacific Electric railroad track in the median of Olympic Blvd is also going away because of the new column. Is this correct? That would be just beyond the coral tree in the photo, and I didn't walk down that far to see. But looking more closely I see the asphalt over the tracks to the left of the worker, and the tracks in the median would be just behind him.
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Post by bzcat on Dec 18, 2012 16:19:44 GMT -8
Drove by Cloverfield yesterday and the rebar was already covered by form, ready for pour. Construction is moving fast!
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Post by TransportationZ on Dec 18, 2012 16:48:00 GMT -8
If the Venice Bl utility relocation would hurry up, and Kinki is speedy with the new LRVs, this line could very well possibly finish ahead of schedule. It's nice to see 2015 be a realistic completion figure again when many of us were say how it probably wouldn't open until 2017 at the earliest.
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 18, 2012 21:43:36 GMT -8
It turns out that huge CIDH foundations have already been cast for the west abutment of the Venice Blvd bridge! Pictures tomorrow. Meanwhile enjoy this Expo tumbleweed video taken at Exposition Blvd and Bagley Ave this evening.
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Post by joshuanickel on Dec 19, 2012 4:19:00 GMT -8
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Post by rubbertoe on Dec 19, 2012 7:59:32 GMT -8
Wow, Very nice developments indeed. I would imagine Dwight will have about 100 new pictures posted by this weekend if not sooner RT
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 19, 2012 10:12:52 GMT -8
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Post by davebowman on Dec 19, 2012 10:13:37 GMT -8
I drive through that intersection every day on the way to and from work, and it was a strange feeling this morning to be going under an overpass. It really makes the coming of the Expo Line to Santa Monica seem very imminent.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Dec 19, 2012 17:00:30 GMT -8
More pics from Dwight this week. (Link)
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 19, 2012 22:40:12 GMT -8
Has anyone noticed that they haven't been able to put any grade crossings yet? That's because of the CPUC rehearings. They can't start putting the tracks before they put the grade crossings. The time to install the tracks is approaching and therefore CPUC better finishes the rehearings.
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Post by gatewaygent on Dec 20, 2012 12:33:18 GMT -8
Again? Isn't this part of what threw the time line off for phase I?
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 20, 2012 14:01:37 GMT -8
This is the CPUC link for the proceeding A1112010. Evidentiary hearing was held a few days ago. I am guessing in a few days or weeks, the judge will issue a decision on whether to proceed with the construction of the Phase 2 tracks or not. Phase 2 tracks cannot be constructed before the decision is issued.
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Post by roadtrainer on Dec 24, 2012 12:01:53 GMT -8
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Post by darrell on Dec 27, 2012 11:05:20 GMT -8
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Post by darrell on Dec 27, 2012 11:35:07 GMT -8
:)I've noticed that evil flat iron used a lot of CIDH in their projects and they drilled some very deep holes for the big long cages but after seeing Dwight's pictures the holes are not so deep and the cages are not so long, Could it be that there are no earthquake faults along these areas of concern? Just want to know? FFP used single large-diameter CIDH footings for their columns; Skanska is using multiple small-diameter CIDH footings tied together with a cap that the above-ground column rests on. Both used multiple small-diameter footings for abutments. I presume Skanska found their design less expensive. I also wonder if the dual large columns used on the sides of Ballona Creek (because the sandy soil couldn't support the load in a single column) could have been single columns using the Skanska footings.
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 27, 2012 12:04:36 GMT -8
Interestingly, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure is also using multiple smaller-diameter CIDH foundations for the Venice bridge as well...
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 27, 2012 12:12:20 GMT -8
The bad news is that the construction (except for the bridges) has now stopped because of NFSR's protest of the previous CPUC approval (Resolution SX-100). Expo just filed this reply brief today and concludes: "Based on the evidentiary record and the principles of law summarized above and in Expo Authority’s Opening Legal Brief, the Commission should either affirm Resolution SX-100 or issue a further decision providing the same authorizations as that Resolution provided, so that Expo Authority may proceed with completion of its Phase 2 Project."
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Dec 27, 2012 13:10:51 GMT -8
Gokhan - can you elaborate more on SX-100 and why construction has stopped on everything except bridges? My assumption is that all grade crossings have now to be re-evaluated; but obviously any grade seperated crossings are not in peril?
If this relates to grade crossings, why would the paths between grade crossings have to stop work?
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 27, 2012 13:35:48 GMT -8
SX-100 was a resolution that had approved all Expo at-grade and grade-separated crossings (except for two grade-separated crossings explained below). NFSR then asked for rehearing for SX-100, and CPUC has now to decide whether they should grant rehearing, which could turn all Expo Phase 2 at-grade crossings into Farmdale.
They can't construct within 1000 ft of an at-grade crossing until the CPUC approval in case they may need to build a ramp there for grade separation. Since all of the at-grade crossings are part of the same resolution SX-100, this leaves many gaps along, which makes starting of the track work, including ballast-retaining walls, impractical.
They can continue grade-separated sections though, such as in Palms west of Exposition/National/Palms. They can't build in the trench near Palms Park and through the I-10 box (Palms Overhead) because the pedestrian bridge and the freeway box were also challenged by NFSR. In fact, I believe they even challenged the I-405 undercrossing and they can't build there either. The reason for the challenges against the pedestrian bridge and I-405 undercrossing is because these two grade separations weren't included in SX-100, citing existing structures with no environmental impact.
Let's hope CPUC will reaffirm SX-100 very soon so that this is put behind and the construction isn't delayed.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Dec 27, 2012 14:02:15 GMT -8
The power of a few, can hold up the needs for the thousands. So unfortunate.
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