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Post by metrocenter on Dec 27, 2012 14:46:41 GMT -8
Humph...bah humbug!!!
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Dec 27, 2012 18:22:04 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). Thankfully, from an email today in regard to work stoppage: ...Just a rumor. All work is still proceeding per the approved schedule.
- Rick Thorpe
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Post by Gokhan on Dec 27, 2012 21:56:59 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). Thankfully, from an email today in regard to work stoppage: ...Just a rumor. All work is still proceeding per the approved schedule.
- Rick Thorpe Sounds good! Let's hope the CPUC denies the rehearing request soon so that this stays that way.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Dec 29, 2012 8:28:56 GMT -8
Dwight was roving around the westside yesterday and along with pictures (link) reports that: Today there were concrete pumping trucks everywhere with a total of 5 going at the same time. (1) at Venice Blvd Bridge abutment (BBII) (1) National Palms Retaining Wall (Skanska) (1) Sepulveda Station & Bridge East Side Second Station Leg (Skanska) (2) Bundy - one on each side of the road working on station leg foundation pads, east side, and abutment foundation west side. (Skanska) Very shortly after the first of the year the next set of falsework should be at National-Palms as the only thing left to be done is pour the station column. Work has already started on the Pico bridge column areas between Sawtelle and Pico - a full week early. There were work crews everywhere all working at the same time - almost like a small army! (latest pictures link)Project status as of the end of 2012 Venice Blvd to Bagley Ave Work in this area can’t happen till Balfour Beatty Construction clears the area and Skanska can start the MSE form the Venice abutment.
Balfour Beatty has finally started abutment work on the west side of Venice Blvd. Bagley Ave to Palms Ave Once the retaining wall is done the area can get backfilled and compacted - then grading of the ROW and OCS can start. Palms Ave to Motor Ave Once the retaining wall is done the area can get backfilled and compacted - then grading of the ROW and OCS can start. National--Palms Station The abutment foundation work is almost done and soon falsework installation can start for bridge and station. Motor Ave Bridge The old Motor Ave bridge is gone and soon the falsework installation can start for the bridge. It seems strange there has been limited work at this location. Motor Ave to I-10 Have not seen this area, but is most likely graded and ready. I-10 to Overland Ave The ROW is graded and OCS foundations are done. The next thing to be done in this area (I think) is duct-bank piping for communication circuits. Overland Ave to Westwood Blvd The ROW is graded and OCS foundations are done. The next thing to be done in this area (I think) is duct-bank piping for communication circuits. Westwood Blvd to Military Ave The ROW is graded and OCS foundations are done. The next thing to be done in this area (I think) is duct-bank piping for communication circuits. Military Ave to Sepulveda Blvd The first thing is the removal of the temporary parking on the ROW just west of Military (was for LA-Traffic cops). Then MSE work leading to the Sepulveda Blvd eastern abutment.
The abutments are done and the station legs are in the works. In early January we should see falsework installation. Sepulveda Blvd to Sawtelle Blvd There is limited work right now as the I-405 project is currently working above the ROW. Once the work area above the ROW is clear, work can move into this area. Sawtelle Blvd to Pico Blvd The work will start soon on the column foundation to support the aerial trackway.
The abutment foundations west of Pico Blvd have started. Pico Blvd to Barington Ave Next thing to be done after abutment is finished will be the MSE to level ground (at grade). The ROW is graded and OCS foundations are done. The next thing to be done in this area (I think) is duct-bank piping for communication circuits. Barington Ave to Bundy Dr Crews are working on the eastern abutment. After that is done the MSE work can start.
The ROW is graded and OCS foundations are done. The next thing to be done in this area (I think) is duct-bank piping for communication circuits.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jan 4, 2013 7:37:24 GMT -8
Latest update from Dwight in the field: I was talking with the contractor for utility relocation at Sepulveda Blvd. He told me that he will be done with the ductwork and cable work by the end of February at Sepulveda Blvd and Bundy.
Falsework for Sepulveda Blvd should start end of Feb/early March
Skanska really hit the ground running in 2013
Latest pictures from this week (link)
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 4, 2013 10:13:07 GMT -8
Yesterday afternoon, they were making the forms for the Palms bridge column. Sometime between then and this morning, concrete was poured and the forms were already removed -- in less than 24 hours! Abutment forms are still being made. Concrete should be cast and forms should be removed in a few days. I don't think they will build the bridge superstructure here yet because once they build it, they can't get inside the station area, which still needs a lot of work. By the way, the retaining walls in Palms are looking just like the MSE walls along Jefferson Blvd.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 9, 2013 15:28:05 GMT -8
Palms west abutment is finished and it's rather bizarre-looking with a huge gap in it, very likely for the stairwell: I am guessing they still need to build a retaining wall on the temporarily shored freeway side before they can start the bridge superstructure. The CIDH foundations for that wall have already been made. Palms Station is one confined work area with a lot of structures being put together.
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Post by darrell on Jan 9, 2013 22:22:01 GMT -8
New photos from today: Not brand new, but my first visit since the OCS pole footings were completed; looking south toward the freeway underpass from the pedestrian bridge Looking north-east toward Northvale Two cats, on the east side this time Looking west, showing how the raised grade is above the old wooden retaining wall next to Palms Park Stacks of conduit at Military And a quick shot to the west side of Sepulveda of its abutment and two columns
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jan 12, 2013 14:51:34 GMT -8
Latest photos and update from Dwight in the field: With 2013 Only 2-Weeks Old SKANSKA hit the Ground Running and this will be a Huge Year More Falsework being set between the Mid-span Columns for Cloverfield & Olympic Bridge also now 3 of 4 Mid-Span Columns are DONE one Left to be done Crews Will Start this week comming up I was told on Friday with the Setting of Falsework on the Eastern side of Sepulveda The Abutment work and Foundations for Station Column Legs at Bundy is Making Huge Progress The Work has Started Between Sawtelle and Pico with the Mid Span Column foundations and The Western Abutment The Work on the National-Palms Station are is taking real shape starting to look like the artist renderings ENJOY THE PHOTOS www.flickr.com/photos/expoline-part-2
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jan 15, 2013 11:14:29 GMT -8
From Expo supporters in Cheviot Hills, some interesting news: In June of 2012, after lobbying by LA Native and a request by the Urban Design Committee, the Expo Board passed a motion directing the contractor to use California native plants to the greatest extent possible for the Expo Line landscaping.
At the Expo Board Meeting last Thursday, January 10, the Board restated its commitment to natives by approving a motion by Councilmember Koretz to increase the amount of natives in the landscaping from the 60% proposed by the landscape contractor to 90% and to find a substitute for the use of the invasive Mexican Fan Palm as the station tree.
The reasons to use natives are many:
1) Wildlife Support: In the last 50 years, we have suffered a loss of 90% of our indigenous songbirds and butterflies. This is primarily due to the loss of native habitat. Nearly all indigenous butterfly caterpillars can ONLY eat native plants. These caterpillars are the primary food source for baby birds.
2) Water and Energy Conservation: 70% of residential water use in Los Angeles County goes to watering primarily non-native plants. 20% of California's energy is used to move and treat water. Natives use on average one-seventh the water of non-natives.
3) Runoff Pollution: Fertilizers necessary for non-native plants are one of the top three sources of runoff pollution in the Ballona Watershed and Santa Monica Bay. Natives require no fertilizers at all.
4) Landfill Waste: 13% of landfill waste in Los Angeles County is organic matter from landscape maintenance. Switching to natives reduces this waste by 73%.
5) Geographical Identity: California native plants and trees are not found in other parts of the world. Natives preserve our environmental heritage and promote a cultural identity.
The use of native plants along the line is not just a substitution of some plants for some other plants, but is a design statement that tells all who ride the line, LA residents and visitors alike, that this is what Los Angeles actually looks like.
This is different from the ubiquitous mix of non-native plants in most landscapes around the city. For more information on this issue go to www.lanative.org. Light Rail for Cheviot is a supporter of LA Native.
A thank you to Director Koretz and his staff who brought the above motions to the Board and to Directors Bonin, O'Leary, and Yaroslavsky who supported the most recent motion.
Sarah Hays and Karen Leonard - co-chairs, Light Rail for Cheviot
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 16, 2013 13:32:12 GMT -8
From the January project-status update:
Major Issues
Potential delays due to overhead utility relocations:
• DWP and communication line overhead to underground relocations on Venice Blvd.
• DWP and SCE work is still on the critical path at various locations and continues to be closely monitored
• Working with SCE, Communications and Southern California Gas (SCG) to resolve interface challenges at the terminus station
• At National/Palms and Sepulveda, Expo staff and the contractor developed a work sequencing approach with input from the City and community. Work began last month at these two locations
• SCE and DWP costs are currently over budget and continue to trend higher than anticipated
• Third Party Scope Growth
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 16, 2013 19:10:48 GMT -8
Falsework for the new Palms Station bridge at Exposition/National started rising today...
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Post by John Ryan on Jan 18, 2013 16:17:14 GMT -8
Palms Station Bonus Shot of Venice Construction, Downtown
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jan 19, 2013 21:02:04 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 20, 2013 11:22:10 GMT -8
Yes, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure is somewhat slow. I hope they can do the middle and eastern columns for the Venice bridge soon so that at least the eastern part of the bridge could be built. When they finish the western abutment, hopefully they will clear the area behind Albertsons for Skanska/Rados to move in.
Perhaps they can bring a few trains on trucks to the Santa Monica yard for testing even before this segment is completed so that the 2015 opening is not delayed. Then, once this segment is completed, they can start the usual four-week prerevenue operation, with the Expo trains unloading the passengers at Venice/Robertson but going all the way to Colorado/4th.
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Post by roadtrainer on Jan 21, 2013 7:32:16 GMT -8
Yes, Balfour Beatty Infrastructure is somewhat slow. I hope they can do the middle and eastern columns for the Venice bridge soon so that at least the eastern part of the bridge could be built. When they finish the western abutment, hopefully they will clear the area behind Albertsons for Skanska/Rados to move in. Perhaps they can bring a few trains on trucks to the Santa Monica yard for testing even before this segment is completed so that the 2015 opening is not delayed. Then, once this segment is completed, they can start the usual four-week pre-revenue operation, with the Expo trains unloading the passengers at Venice/Robertson but going all the way to Colorado/4th. let's hope that DWP will get off their ashes and move the dam wires, here's a question Since DWP is a union outfit,so why don't they use a union contractor and get -r-done? Why are they so long winded? Expo is paying them for the wire moment , so again why are they so dam slow? Also I remember that Rick Thrope said that DWP would probably get the wires moved by the time the bents and false-work were built,or at the least half the bridge would be built by the time the wires got moved. Also any time line on line on the rail yard construction? And who is the contractor? sincerely The Road trainer P.S. has anyone taken it upon their own called DWP and asked them "what's the hold up?"
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Post by roadtrainer on Jan 21, 2013 7:49:01 GMT -8
From Darrell Two cats, on the east side this time LOVE THOSE KITTY PHOTOGRAPHS---KEEP THEM COMING
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Post by bobdavis on Jan 21, 2013 22:16:15 GMT -8
Looks like I'm not the only one who likes cats. Bless the people who make sure they're fed.
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Post by darrell on Jan 25, 2013 21:51:55 GMT -8
The Bundy bridge abutments are rising, per these photos from Wednesday (1/23). It was a dark day, and just on my iPhone, but they show progress.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 25, 2013 22:47:12 GMT -8
Comparing the current status of construction to Phase 1, it puts us sometime in 2008, 4 years before the opening. This puts the possible opening day of Phase 2 sometime in late 2016 or so. I was hoping for late 2015, less than 3 years from now, but Expo Phase 1 had the station platforms and some of the trackwork done by then. Bridges are slowly coming up but we're still at the very early stages of construction.
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Post by darrell on Jan 25, 2013 23:18:58 GMT -8
Comparing the current status of construction to Phase 1, it puts us sometime in 2008, 4 years before the opening. I think it's better than that. From dated photos (a reason to post them!) the first La Brea columns were up in 1/09 and the falsework (east of the boulevard) was going up in 5/09. Falsework first spanned La Brea in 10/09. La Cienega lagged a little, with columns up and falsework east of the boulevard up in 6/09. Falsework there also spanned in 10/09. The new Flower Street bridge over the Harbor Freeway similarly had its falsework spanned in 9/09. So Cloverfield / Olympic this month is similar to mid-2009, a bit less than three years before Phase 1 opened. Less than three years from now is late 2015. Skanska also seems better at parallel construction, and Phase 2 (hopefully!) won't have the Phase 1 delays around the Washington / Flower tie-in. Although the maintenance facility construction hasn't even started. Added: The first Phase 1 OCS pole footings were done west of Vermont in 11/08, and all were finished east of Creshaw in 3/09. Phase 2's first ones were in 10/12.
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Post by darrell on Jan 26, 2013 0:11:39 GMT -8
Here's a "before" photo from 6/15/08 that I never posted. On a late afternoon, looking east from Overland Avenue, the old track curving into the distance sure looked like someplace else!
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 26, 2013 13:40:42 GMT -8
Here's a "before" photo from 6/15/08 that I never posted. On a late afternoon, looking east from Overland Avenue, the old track curving into the distance sure looked like someplace else! Great picture showing the rustic looks of the Pacific Electric track. It's great that it looks like the bike path will be kept out of the trench so that the trees and landscaping won't be replaced with large concrete retaining walls.
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Post by darrell on Jan 26, 2013 13:46:15 GMT -8
It's great that it looks like the bike path will be kept out of the trench so that the trees and landscaping won't be replaced with large concrete retaining walls. I sure hope so - have you heard anything recently? Of course, that could be a question for Wednesday evening's Update meeting.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 26, 2013 13:47:35 GMT -8
Comparing the current status of construction to Phase 1, it puts us sometime in 2008, 4 years before the opening. I think it's better than that. From dated photos (a reason to post them!) the first La Brea columns were up in 1/09 and the falsework (east of the boulevard) was going up in 5/09. Falsework first spanned La Brea in 10/09. La Cienega lagged a little, with columns up and falsework east of the boulevard up in 6/09. Falsework there also spanned in 10/09. The new Flower Street bridge over the Harbor Freeway similarly had its falsework spanned in 9/09. So Cloverfield / Olympic this month is similar to mid-2009, a bit less than three years before Phase 1 opened. Less than three years from now is late 2015. Skanska also seems better at parallel construction, and Phase 2 (hopefully!) won't have the Phase 1 delays around the Washington / Flower tie-in. Although the maintenance facility construction hasn't even started. Added: The first Phase 1 OCS pole footings were done west of Vermont in 11/08, and all were finished east of Creshaw in 3/09. Phase 2's first ones were in 10/12. I am not as optimistic as you are. In 2009 they also had a lot of progress on the stations and tracks. So far none of that has happened with Phase 2. Also, many of the overhead lines haven't been removed, which will delay the bridge superstructures. For the line to open by the end of 2015, the construction needs to be substantially completed by the end of 2014. I can't see how they can finish so much in only two years, even assuming there will be no unexpected hurdles, which will likely be at sometime anyway. I hope for 2015 but 2016 seems more realistic.
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Post by darrell on Jan 26, 2013 13:48:18 GMT -8
Here's another new-to-here old photo, looking north through the tunnel on 9/29/06:
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 26, 2013 13:53:13 GMT -8
It's great that it looks like the bike path will be kept out of the trench so that the trees and landscaping won't be replaced with large concrete retaining walls. I sure hope so - have you heard anything recently? Of course, that could be a question for Wednesday evening's Update meeting. The last thing I heard was that the Bicycle Advisory Committee also agrees that between Dunleer Place and Overland Avenue, the bike path should be Class 1 on Northvale Road, not inside the trench. This is a very good thing because it looks like everyone, including the hardcore bike advocates, are agreeing on this. However, this is still not set in stone and the LADOT should agree with putting a Class 1 bike path on the street there, and plans need to be finalized. Keeping the bike path out of the trench will save more than $6 million and this money will be useful for improving the bike path at other locations.
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Post by jamesinclair on Jan 26, 2013 22:43:47 GMT -8
I think it's better than that. From dated photos (a reason to post them!) the first La Brea columns were up in 1/09 and the falsework (east of the boulevard) was going up in 5/09. Falsework first spanned La Brea in 10/09. La Cienega lagged a little, with columns up and falsework east of the boulevard up in 6/09. Falsework there also spanned in 10/09. The new Flower Street bridge over the Harbor Freeway similarly had its falsework spanned in 9/09. So Cloverfield / Olympic this month is similar to mid-2009, a bit less than three years before Phase 1 opened. Less than three years from now is late 2015. Skanska also seems better at parallel construction, and Phase 2 (hopefully!) won't have the Phase 1 delays around the Washington / Flower tie-in. Although the maintenance facility construction hasn't even started. Added: The first Phase 1 OCS pole footings were done west of Vermont in 11/08, and all were finished east of Creshaw in 3/09. Phase 2's first ones were in 10/12. I am not as optimistic as you are. In 2009 they also had a lot of progress on the stations and tracks. So far none of that has happened with Phase 2. Also, many of the overhead lines haven't been removed, which will delay the bridge superstructures. For the line to open by the end of 2015, the construction needs to be substantially completed by the end of 2014. I can't see how they can finish so much in only two years, even assuming there will be no unexpected hurdles, which will likely be at sometime anyway. I hope for 2015 but 2016 seems more realistic. Well, compare it to the new train they're building in Valencia. Construction didnt really begin until last month, there's no track and no station, and yet theyre going to be open by independence day this year. It can be done.
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Post by rajacobs on Jan 29, 2013 12:37:39 GMT -8
Back in Jun 2010, the MSE wall over at Jefferson and National was pieced together like puzzle pieces that provided structural support, apparently on its own: Now in Jan 2013, the MSE wall on the east side of the National and Palms intersection is being done differently--with the design apparently applied to a concrete and steel reinforced back: I've also noted that the north bridge foundation at Venice and Robertson seems to consist of lots of little "supports" rather than massive CIDH supports.
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Post by rajacobs on Jan 29, 2013 12:48:38 GMT -8
...And on the west side of the Palms - National intersection, work on that abutment is proceeding...
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