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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Feb 20, 2014 8:22:04 GMT -8
Feds are paying half of the cost to build the Regional Connector... Note, the Feds don't actually pay for anything, they take money from you and simply give some of it back to you if they feel it's in your best interests. Just a semantic point, but an important one!
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Post by thanks4goingmetro on Feb 20, 2014 13:17:57 GMT -8
Feds are paying half of the cost to build the Regional Connector... Note, the Feds don't actually pay for anything, they take money from you and simply give some of it back to you if they feel it's in your best interests. Just a semantic point, but an important one! If we're truly splitting hairs, the money paying does not even in reality exist, it's numbers on a computer screen (only 8% of US Dollars exists as cash), what's more is it is backed by nothing more than "faith," not silver not gold no evidence; how far we digress! The Regional Connector (or Expo Phase 3) is projected for a 2020 opening now?
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Feb 21, 2014 11:24:47 GMT -8
The Regional Connector (or Expo Phase 3) is projected for a 2020 opening now? Gold Line Phase 3, Blue Line Phase 2? Or finally the original completion of Pasadena Blue Line?
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 23, 2014 3:10:30 GMT -8
We're now only about a year away from the completion of the Expo Phase 2 construction... With the construction only about 60% complete, this means huge visible changes will happen every month now.
Saw that they started installing rail east of the Palms Station.
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Post by joshuanickel on Feb 23, 2014 20:37:31 GMT -8
This past week in Santa Monica, they have started to spread the sub ballast for track installation between 11th street and 14th street. They have also started forming the platform for the 17th street station.
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f ron
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Post by f ron on Feb 24, 2014 10:48:51 GMT -8
Now that rail has been laid on the Northvale trench all service vehicles must use it to do thier work. Much of the work of late has been trucks adapted for rail carrying loads of ballast to dump around the tracks. There's been a lot of "wheel squeal" from these vehicles when fully loaded --though hardly any at all when they're empty.
I wonder if someone here who knows better can tell me, is this something that's typical of service vehicles or maybe track that hasn't been fully aligned? --or, is this something that probably isn't likely to go away by the time the train comes? I'm under the impression that "wheel squeal" is more apt to occur on curves. The trench has a slight bend and my concern is that this problem could be baked in.
thanks!
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 24, 2014 10:58:10 GMT -8
Rail will be aligned and ground.
It's correct that most squeals happen at curves. Vertical curvature (such as when ramps begin and end) also increases the noise. Sometimes they use track lubrication to reduce the squeals and noise.
The wheels on the trains will also be more precise than on the hi-rail vehicles.
You won't know the actual noise until full-speed tests start in spring or summer 2015.
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f ron
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Post by f ron on Feb 24, 2014 11:22:21 GMT -8
I suspected as much. Thanks for confirming Gokhan!
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 25, 2014 10:52:25 GMT -8
Venice Blvd Ramp is nearing completion. They still need to cast concrete in the middle of it for the walkway. I don't know why the shoring equipment is sitting there: Venice Blvd Bridge is virtually completed with only some concrete touch-ups and polishing taking place:
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 27, 2014 9:36:49 GMT -8
Expo Phase 2 construction has stopped because of the rain. It should resume Sunday night. Two days will have been lost.
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Post by masonite on Feb 27, 2014 10:08:08 GMT -8
Expo Phase 2 construction has stopped because of the rain. It should resume Sunday night. Two days will have been lost. Well, I gotta assume they budget a few of these into the schedule. If not, they obviously should have. They have benefited greatly from not having hardly any rain over the last 1.5 years.
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Post by bzcat on Feb 27, 2014 11:07:34 GMT -8
It's interesting that we stop construction because of a little rain. Over in Asia, they work right through the monsoon season and only stop if there is a typhoon. Kind of like how NASCAR suspends racing if there is a little rain but in F1 or WRC, they just change tires and keep going.
Different place, different practice.
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f ron
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Post by f ron on Feb 27, 2014 11:56:51 GMT -8
I don't know about the moisture-averse workers on other parts of the line but that hasn't stopped the stalwarts who work the Northvale trench! Several vehicles have gone up and down this stretch today. : )
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Feb 27, 2014 12:07:43 GMT -8
It's interesting that we stop construction because of a little rain. Over in Asia, they work right through the monsoon season and only stop if there is a typhoon. Kind of like how NASCAR suspends racing if there is a little rain but in F1 or WRC, they just change tires and keep going. Different place, different practice. Are you sure that Asia won't stop for what is expecting to be up to 2" of rain through Sunday (the largest storm since 2011)? It's going to be huge. I saw workers this morning around Bundy.
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Post by RMoses on Feb 27, 2014 13:12:09 GMT -8
It's interesting that we stop construction because of a little rain. Over in Asia, they work right through the monsoon season and only stop if there is a typhoon. Kind of like how NASCAR suspends racing if there is a little rain but in F1 or WRC, they just change tires and keep going. Different place, different practice. Are you sure that Asia won't stop for what is expecting to be up to 2" of rain through Sunday (the largest storm since 2011)? It's going to be huge. I saw workers this morning around Bundy. All quite on the Western Terminus. Terminus Webcam
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Post by bzcat on Feb 28, 2014 11:10:10 GMT -8
It's interesting that we stop construction because of a little rain. Over in Asia, they work right through the monsoon season and only stop if there is a typhoon. Kind of like how NASCAR suspends racing if there is a little rain but in F1 or WRC, they just change tires and keep going. Different place, different practice. Are you sure that Asia won't stop for what is expecting to be up to 2" of rain through Sunday (the largest storm since 2011)? It's going to be huge. I saw workers this morning around Bundy. Most east Asian cities get 2" every week. If you stop work because of expected 2" rainfall, nothing will ever get constructed! For example - average rainfall in Singapore is 92" a year... roughly the same amount of rain per week as we are expecting this week in LA: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_SingaporeRain is really not a problem for construction. Wind is an issue, that's why they will stop work if there is a typhoon coming.
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Post by joshuanickel on Feb 28, 2014 11:48:27 GMT -8
Driving Colorado on 11th street today, the trench between 11th and 14th is now home to a big pond of water that will most likely not drain due to the sub ballast that was compacted in that section this past week.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Mar 1, 2014 6:36:28 GMT -8
Recent construction photo from contractor shows some Palms special track work already installed! Facebook Entry Here
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 1, 2014 10:05:30 GMT -8
Certainly, they are only a year away from finishing the project and don't be surprised by huge visible progress all the time from now on. Track installation is also taking place east of Palms Station. This year will be most visible progress of the construction as far as trackwork, OCS, stations, fencing, landscaping, etc. is concerned. Previously it's been mostly bridge work and underground utilities.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 1, 2014 18:09:48 GMT -8
Just a reminder of the current official Expo Phase 2 dates:
Substantial completion (last estimate [@ 50% completion]): July 10, 2015 Length of testing and start-up: 150 days ROD (last estimate [@ 50% completion]): December 7, 2015 Contingency (last estimate [@ 50% completion]): 167 days ROD with contingency (last estimate [@ 50% completion]): May 22, 2016
Old contingency (estimate at project start): 334 days Old ROD date with contingency (estimate at project start): November 5, 2016
Next estimate for contingency and ROD with contingency: to be made at 90% completion
Note that the project was 100% on schedule @ 50% completion. That's why the contingency was exactly cut by half (by 50%) from 334 days to 167 days.
PS: From inside information, the contractor wants to finish the project about 2 months ahead of the schedule, in May 2015. If Metro also shortens the testing a little, the line could open as early as around September 2015. They need 3 new trains (9 new cars) and they should be delivered by then.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 3, 2014 10:12:59 GMT -8
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Post by davebowman on Mar 7, 2014 11:19:13 GMT -8
They were pouring concrete on the eastern ramp of the Olympic/Cloverfield bridge this morning. Also, on Wednesday night at about 11:00pm there was work being done on the Bundy bridge. Could they be laying rail?
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Post by bzcat on Mar 7, 2014 12:34:11 GMT -8
A bit late in the game for utility relocation but LADWP works at its own pace... A 20 men LADWP crew was at Overland crossing this morning doing relocation
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f ron
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Post by f ron on Mar 7, 2014 14:31:23 GMT -8
A bit late in the game for utility relocation but LADWP works at its own pace... A 20 men LADWP crew was at Overland crossing this morning doing relocation Yes it looks like Overland Avenue will soon be widened to six lanes. Utility poles are being moved now. The cobra street lights will have to be next. Anyone know if they plan on replacing the cobra lights with something designed to also illuminate the sidewalks?
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Post by joshuanickel on Mar 7, 2014 19:46:19 GMT -8
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Post by joshuanickel on Mar 7, 2014 19:59:24 GMT -8
They were pouring concrete on the eastern ramp of the Olympic/Cloverfield bridge this morning. Also, on Wednesday night at about 11:00pm there was work being done on the Bundy bridge. Could they be laying rail? The work being done on the Ramp of the Olympic/Cloverfield bridge is the concrete cap on top of the MSE Wall Pannels. The work being done on the Bundy Bridge is the removal of the falsework. As of today, half of the falsework is gone going over Bundy. The falsework is also completely gone from the Sepulveda Bridge. All bridges are now complete except the Pico Bridge.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 10, 2014 9:39:17 GMT -8
I heard the uniquely resonating sound of the ribbons of rail in Palms today. They are getting ready for rail installation by laying the ribbons.
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 10, 2014 9:53:17 GMT -8
They were working on Saturday and Skanska had brought two curious large winches on the newly cast Palms Station platform east end:
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 10, 2014 21:05:35 GMT -8
Pictures taken this evening. Looking east from Bagley Ave in Palms: Looking west from Bagley Ave in Palms:
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Post by Gokhan on Mar 12, 2014 9:47:51 GMT -8
Falsework has been removed from the east end of the Palms Station platform. You can now see the platform and where it ends on the right. Was this the last falsework along the line? Also note that the two winches above seem to be used to extract the shoring I beams.
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