|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 8, 2014 12:41:36 GMT -8
OCS wire being pulled west from the east end of the Venice Boulevard Bridge to Bagley Avenue and further to just west of the Palms Station. This is at Bagley Avenue: You can see where the line (of OCS wire) ends on Venice Bridge and how the end post is supported by an angled wire attached onto the bridge. No tie-in to Phase 1 yet: Intense clearing, grading, and surfacing work on the Expo multiuse path and landscaping area in Palms:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 16, 2014 9:43:24 GMT -8
Hundreds of truck loads of USC soil that came from the USC-trench excavation is finally being removed from near Exposition Boulevard in Palms to make way for the mutiuse path and landscaping: OCS wire being pulled on the Venice Blvd ramp and bridge just before dusk: LA DWP is hooking up the three 35,000-volt three-phase AC input wires (black wires with red connectors in the photos) into the traction power substation (TPSS) at Clarington Avenue and National Blvd in Palms, each heavily insulated high-voltage wire carrying up to 27 amperes. The input wires are hooked up to the LA DWP metering unit (small gray unit) next to the TPSS main unit (large gray unit). The transformer steps down the voltage and the rectifier converts it into 750 volts DC, capable of providing 2,000 amperes to the overhead catenary system (OCS) wires, corresponding to 1,500,000 watts or 2,000 horsepower: Note sure what this three-wheel trolley is used for: Curb construction along Exposition Blvd in Palms: Tumbleweed plants are gone: In the background, you can see that they are working on the grade-crossing control point at Bagley Avenue. They are also redoing the rail crossing at Bagley Avenue for some reason along with many other things. The intersection will be closed until Monday morning or so: Finally, the largest colony of green parrots I have ever seen. This was near the Expo/Vermont Station. There could be perhaps 500 parrots flying in this flock. They were producing a lot of noise and flying back and forth in the huge flock. At first I thought they were migratory birds. Most of them eventually landed west of Vermont Ave and some of them in the USC campus: Video link
|
|
|
Post by darrell on Oct 25, 2014 22:12:58 GMT -8
Here's an update on Barrington-Bundy track progress late this afternoon from BB&B:
|
|
f ron
Full Member
Posts: 222
|
Post by f ron on Oct 26, 2014 11:52:07 GMT -8
Are they still suggesting that 'major contsrutction' will be complete in the roughly 50 work days remaining in the year? Hard to believe.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Oct 26, 2014 15:45:55 GMT -8
Are they still suggesting that 'major contsrutction' will be complete in the roughly 50 work days remaining in the year? Hard to believe. No, the project is only a little more than 70% complete and is scheduled to finish in mid 2015. The estimate for it being finished was from one poster here. I don't know how accurate it ever was. To me it always seemed like quite a long shot and doubt it was ever realistic.
|
|
|
Post by roadtrainer on Oct 26, 2014 17:56:55 GMT -8
8- | Well what about the sink hole at Bundy? Are the tracks laid over the]sink hole? or not yet?
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 27, 2014 11:25:18 GMT -8
Are they still suggesting that 'major contsrutction' will be complete in the roughly 50 work days remaining in the year? Hard to believe. No, the project is only a little more than 70% complete and is scheduled to finish in mid 2015. The estimate for it being finished was from one poster here. I don't know how accurate it ever was. To me it always seemed like quite a long shot and doubt it was ever realistic. It wasn't an estimate -- it was information directly received from Skanska. They were originally aiming to finish it a couple of months ahead of schedule in May or so. However, they decided to slow down the construction and not finish ahead of schedule. The contract date for completion is July 10, 2015, and they need to hand over the project to Metro on that date or earlier to avoid financial penalties. So, it should be handed over to Metro in June or early July. Most of the mechanical construction will be over by the end of the year and 2015 will be mostly electrical work, road and multiuse-path construction, and landscaping work.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 27, 2014 12:04:21 GMT -8
Palms Station is mostly finished but still no concrete in the station plaza for the TVMs and turnstiles to be brought in: Mass Electric is rushing to finish the OCS between Culver City Station and Clarington Avenue TPSS for the fast-approaching huge Expo milestone -- Phase 1 & 2 tie-in: So, trains will be able to run to the Palms Station in a month or so. I was surprised to see that they were redoing the track in Palms though. For someone reason they often couldn't get things right the first time in Phase 2. They have resurfaced the intersection of Bagley Ave and Exposition Blvd. Meanwhile, Venice Blvd reconstruction is progressing, which was made possible by Beverly Hills Body & Paint finally giving part of the property. You can see the remaining foundation of their large sign, which was within their property (darker-gray pavement):
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 28, 2014 12:32:03 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 28, 2014 14:28:14 GMT -8
There is no confirmation but there is a rumor that the huge milestone Expo Phase 1 & 2 tie-in (at least for one track) may take place in the weekend of November 15, 2014, with the USC football game in Coliseum against UC Berkeley being in the evening of Thursday the 13th. We could consider this as a partial opening of Phase 2.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 29, 2014 9:08:16 GMT -8
I was surprised to see that they were redoing the track in Palms though. Good info from Skanska via expolinefan. I didn't know this was how they achieved zero thermal stress: "The track crews have been doing two things out in the field. The first is the de-stressing of the rail -- once the rail is in its final position (final line and grade), they pull the clips off and mechanically pull the rail to a zero thermal stress. What this means is to stabilize the rail so it does not expand and contract with the weather. The second is they are placing the final walkways and shaping the ballast rock to its final location."
|
|
|
Post by joshuanickel on Oct 29, 2014 9:52:26 GMT -8
Weekend closures at Barington for trackwork and roadway improvements:
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 29, 2014 10:39:10 GMT -8
On Friday, expolinefan will be allowed to share the info regarding the dates of Phase 1 & 2 tie-in and start of train testing that he obtained from Metro.
|
|
|
Post by joshuanickel on Oct 29, 2014 12:23:04 GMT -8
The final grade crossing is about to be constructed. Once 6th street is done, there will be no crossings left.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 29, 2014 13:12:11 GMT -8
Didn't even know that there were still crossings not completed.
Let's hope the Santa Monica end of the tracks are completed soon. I drove by a couple weeks ago and there were still long segments with no track. Also, last time I looked, the terminal station was far from looking like a station.
I wonder how far the storage/maintenance facility is along. It's supposed to be finished in early summer or so.
|
|
|
Post by joshuanickel on Oct 29, 2014 14:12:06 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by joshuanickel on Oct 29, 2014 14:26:07 GMT -8
Here is a diagram from Expoline Fan that shows what is currently being installed between 5th and 7th street. The interlockings between tracks 4 - 3 on the east Side of 6th and the 4 - 3 and 3 - 5 on the West Side of 6th:
|
|
|
Post by metrocenter on Oct 30, 2014 7:54:55 GMT -8
I've got to imagine that crossovers are difficult sections of track to lay: not just the trackwork, but the switches and the control/sensor/signalling electronics as well. And the crossover above, near the Santa Monica terminal station, has five turnouts and leads into a curve.
(One of these days I've got to get out to the Westside to check all work this out.)
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 31, 2014 8:37:26 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 31, 2014 8:43:09 GMT -8
Despite the line not being nearly complete and OCS missing in most areas and tracks having huge gaps, Metro has confirmed with expolinefan that they will start limited testing east of Sepulveda Station as early as January 5, 2014. For those who don't already know, they first check the clearances for track and OCS with dollies and special vehicles. They then very slowly tow an unpowered rail car with a large hi-rail truck. This could take a week or two. After that, slow testing of powered single-car trains start. Note that the initial tests have flagsmen at all crossings. We have none of the crossing circuits and signals installed yet anyway. So, expect seeing some powered car between Culver City and Sepulveda Stations in mid-January 2015. Also note that Sheila Celestain and Carolyn Kelly, the original operators who drove the Phase 1 test trains, will be back to drive the Phase 2 test trains.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 31, 2014 8:46:51 GMT -8
expolinefan has also obtained info that the Expo Phase 1 & 2 tie-in of OCS will take place in the weekends of November 7 and 14. Note that there is no USC football game in those weekends and Metro will try to do the tie-in between 2 - 5 am when the line is not operating.
I am surprised that three hours is sufficient to do the work.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Oct 31, 2014 8:52:18 GMT -8
Finally, some info expolinefan gathered from various sources and put together: Oct 31st OBSERVATION REPORT On EXPO-2 by ExpoLineFan CULVER CITY to PALMS STATION Tracks are in and going through final alignment and de-stressing of the rail OCS wires Currently start just short of Expo-1 on the Venice Boulevard Bridge and go as far West as the Westwood Station ( See Notice Above as to the Phase-1 and Phase-2 Tie-In ) Bagley Crossing has all the Crossing Control Mechanisms Just need the Long Red/White fiberglass Poles Arms From Venice Boulevard to Palms Station the area for the Multi Use Path has been Cleared and leveled Palms Station now is the Second Station Noticed with the Canopies The station Plaza is one of the remaining area to finish but this station is looking Nice ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35668357 ) TPSS #9 was recently connected by LADWP and has Power PALMS STATION to WESTWOOD STATION This station looks to have had most of the Large Parts of Construction finished One thing remaining from observation the Station Plaza area on the West end This was the First station with Finished Platforms and Canopies Remaining work is all the Lights, Time-Date Display, PA Systems and Station Art The Crossings at Overland & Westwood had some recent work getting the crossing to there finished shape ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35213885 ) TPSS #10 at Overland is installed but no Info as to hookup by LADWP WESTWOOD STATION to SEPULVIDA STATION The DF Tracks are done and have been used to move rails further west for installation The Rail Storage yard is all but empty as of Oct 27th as most of the Rail from this yard has been installed or is been move to the area of use for installation This Picture Link Shows Large Push of Tracks Heading West crossing Military and going up threw the Sepulveda Station ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35668333 ) Canopy supports are in and hopefully soon the rain shields and wavy sun screens Still work on the station plazas is needed to be done The Crossings at Overland & Westwood had some recent work getting the crossing to there finished shape The DF Tracks at the Sepulveda Station are done and are continuous all the way to Culver City and the rest of the Expo Line SEPULVIDA STATION to BUNDY STATION At the Time of this Note the Rail ties are laid between Sepulveda Station and the eastern end of the Sawtelle-Pico Bridge On the track-3 side rails are as far west Past the Sepulveda Stations as to be even with the TPSS #11 The Sepulveda Parking Garage has been done for quite some time but now it had it’s branding and metro signage ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35668321 ) DF Rails Look to be Installed on the Pico Bridge this is 1 of 2 Long Bridges for the project the other the Cloverfield/Olympic Bridge Nice ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35627501 ) The Grade Crossing at Barrington is done From Barrington to Bundy Station the track is in for Track-3 Side ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35559479 ) The DF Tracks at Bundy are done BUNDY STATION to 26th STREET STATION The final grading prepping of the ROW Between Bundy Station and Stewart Street this looks to be the last large area of track left to install From Stewart Street to 26th Street the rails are in and OCS Poles have started West Most of the Platform work is done as of this note Have not seen pictures of Canopies and once thay are installed the Electrical systems for the Platform can be finished The Station at 26th Street will Have East and West Entrances and from recent pictures the station ramps are looking good this thanks to the City of SM betterment added the Second entrance 26th Street Station ( Picture Link West Side www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35113939 ) 26th Street Station ( Picture Link East Side www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35398869 ) 26th STREET STATION to 17th STREET STATION All tracks are laid in this area there is still some ongoing work on Earth Boxes for the train control systems Between 20th & 19th Street the only Full-Crossover was finished a while ago this area Looks Nice ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35038149 ) The canopy supports at 17th Street Station are installed and hopefully soon the rain shields and wavy sun screens Most of the work remaining looks to be work on the station entrance areas and Plaza areas Once canopies are installed all lighting and PA & safety system can be installed 17th STREET STATION to 4th STRET STATION · Most tracks are laid in this area there is still some ongoing work on Earth Boxes for the train control systems and small pockets of track left to finish ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35311571 ) · The Interlocking switches for the 4th Street Station are Looking Good ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35559571 ) · The tracks for the 4th Street station will be DF Tracks and these should start soon · This is the Only 3-Track & 2-Platform Station in the Metro System and will be an outstanding station once finished · This Picture Link Below Shows of the Platforms 1 & 2 Poured give a nice view as to how things will look when this station is finished ( Picture Link www.ipernity.com/doc/expo-line/35559551 ) I would like to thank every one that helps to keep The Expo Photo Page Fresh and Updated Alan Weeks Andres Campos Andres Fernando Di Zitti Darrell Clarke Edgar Burcksen Expo Line Construction Authority Gökhan Esirgen Jerome H. Weymouth John Park Jonathan Weiss Jordan Marshall Joshua Nickel LACMTA Neal Broverman Richard McNamara Ron Miller SKANSKA SMConstructs Todd Markle - The Right-of-Way is Not Open to the Public. - Reminder to Take Photos from Public areas only or if Escorted Access is provided - Please obey all posted construction signs and do not enter the construction work zone - This Disclaimer is back due to a Request of Metro
|
|
|
Post by bzcat on Nov 3, 2014 15:15:09 GMT -8
Despite the line not being nearly complete and OCS missing in most areas and tracks having huge gaps, Metro has confirmed with expolinefan that they will start limited testing east of Sepulveda Station as early as January 5, 2014. For those who don't already know, they first check the clearances for track and OCS with dollies and special vehicles. They then very slowly tow an unpowered rail car with a large hi-rail truck. This could take a week or two. After that, slow testing of powered single-car trains start. Note that the initial tests have flagsmen at all crossings. We have none of the crossing circuits and signals installed yet anyway. So, expect seeing some powered car between Culver City and Sepulveda Stations in mid-January 2015. I'm curious why Metro hasn't announce it yet
|
|
|
Post by Transit Coalition on Nov 3, 2014 17:42:38 GMT -8
Despite the line not being nearly complete and OCS missing in most areas and tracks having huge gaps, Metro has confirmed with expolinefan that they will start limited testing east of Sepulveda Station as early as January 5, 2014. For those who don't already know, they first check the clearances for track and OCS with dollies and special vehicles. They then very slowly tow an unpowered rail car with a large hi-rail truck. This could take a week or two. After that, slow testing of powered single-car trains start. Note that the initial tests have flagsmen at all crossings. We have none of the crossing circuits and signals installed yet anyway. So, expect seeing some powered car between Culver City and Sepulveda Stations in mid-January 2015. I'm curious why Metro hasn't announced it yet When anything is announced by Metro, it represents reality. All members of the Metro team must agree and come to a group consensus. Random gossip gathered from some of the fanboys that mention supposed news here is something that you can't take to the bank, but a signal that things are getting closer. Opening date and certain event milestones are of interest to everyone here, but the only real information is going to come from Metro Media Releases and publication in the source. Some of you guys may take this the wrong way, but things move forward when the internal projects goals and milestones get met and the project is safe to move forward to the next step. I would guess this endless speculation of dates is fun, but this doesn't change reality and safety.
|
|
|
Post by masonite on Nov 3, 2014 17:57:27 GMT -8
I'm curious why Metro hasn't announced it yet When anything is announced by Metro, it represents reality. All members of the Metro team must agree and come to a group consensus. Random gossip gathered from some of the fanboys that mention supposed news here is something that you can't take to the bank, but a signal that things are getting closer. Opening date and certain event milestones are of interest to everyone here, but the only real information is going to come from Metro Media Releases and publication in the source. Some of you guys may take this the wrong way, but things move forward when the internal projects goals and milestones get met and the project is safe to move forward to the next step. I would guess this endless speculation of dates is fun, but this doesn't change reality and safety. Very true. A lot of what is reported here is speculation, but people take as gospel. The first post of this thread talks about how the Palms station may open in 2012. LOL. Speculation is fun, but I think it is good to remember that is all it is.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Nov 4, 2014 10:07:01 GMT -8
When anything is announced by Metro, it represents reality. All members of the Metro team must agree and come to a group consensus. Random gossip gathered from some of the fanboys that mention supposed news here is something that you can't take to the bank, but a signal that things are getting closer. Opening date and certain event milestones are of interest to everyone here, but the only real information is going to come from Metro Media Releases and publication in the source. Some of you guys may take this the wrong way, but things move forward when the internal projects goals and milestones get met and the project is safe to move forward to the next step. I would guess this endless speculation of dates is fun, but this doesn't change reality and safety. Very true. A lot of what is reported here is speculation, but people take as gospel. The first post of this thread talks about how the Palms station may open in 2012. LOL. Speculation is fun, but I think it is good to remember that is all it is. expolinefan obtained the information from Skanska and Expo Authority in written form and they both verified its accuracy and OK'd its release. So, the info is 100% accurate. However, Metro got very unhappy with the leak of the information and scolded expolinefan through several phone class for making the info public, even though it was OK'd for release by Skanska and Expo Authority. It's plain and simple: If you only care about publicly released info, don't read the blogs. If you are interested in details not made public yet and other details that will never be made public, blogs are the right place.
|
|
|
Post by Gokhan on Nov 4, 2014 13:20:44 GMT -8
expolinefan obtained the information from Skanska and Expo Authority in written form and they both verified its accuracy and OK'd its release. So, the info is 100% accurate. However, Metro got very unhappy with the leak of the information and scolded expolinefan through several phone class for making the info public, even though it was OK'd for release by Skanska and Expo Authority. It's plain and simple: If you only care about publicly released info, don't read the blogs. If you are interested in details not made public yet and other details that will never be made public, blogs are the right place. Well, as if the beating from Metro for leaking the (correct) info that was obtained from and approved for release by Skanska and Expo wasn't enough, the negative comments on this board really upset expolinefan, and he says he will not share any info from his inside sources anymore.
|
|
|
Post by Transit Coalition on Nov 4, 2014 14:27:41 GMT -8
expolinefan obtained the information from Skanska and Expo Authority in written form and they both verified its accuracy and OK'd its release. So, the info is 100% accurate. However, Metro got very unhappy with the leak of the information and scolded expolinefan through several phone calls for making the info public, even though it was OK'd for release by Skanska and Expo Authority. It's plain and simple: If you only care about publicly released info, don't read the blogs. If you are interested in details not made public yet and other details that will never be made public, blogs are the right place. Well, as if the beating from Metro for leaking the (correct) info that was obtained from and approved for release by Skanska and Expo wasn't enough, the negative comments on this board really upset expolinefan, and he says he will not share any info from his inside sources anymore. There is a huge difference between a journalist with current (2014) media credentials such as City of LA Police Dept. or County of LA Sheriff Dept. who represents a known blog (Streetsblog, CurbedLA) or print or electronic media or is a paid published freelancer and a non-credentialed amateur who doesn't follow any rules or policy and represents no one, but himself. This individual has made representations that he has obtained information from Metro, Expo Construction Authority and Skanska. However, in talking to responsible officials, it appears that no one wants to talk to him and he pesters the full range of staff at these agencies. Twisting truth and reality to fit his agenda does not serve anyone here. Our job isn't to be first with unsubstantiated gossip. We are glad to show and document progress of construction by photos and people here can express opinions. As publisher of this "bulletin board" (this isn't a blog), we have full legal responsibility over the content and can check the veracity of some of the content. Making a statement that "information is obtained in written form", but then never shared with the publisher showing the company name, individual name, title and phone number is a high level of irresponsibility. When calling Expo and Skanska, we should be able to find the person who approved the information or evidence of a mistake. The opposite is true, as no one has talked to the guy on record.
|
|
|
Post by culvercitylocke on Nov 4, 2014 15:26:14 GMT -8
Lol nothing like an internecine bureaucratic turf war. Spectacular entertainment but sad to see such petulance from metro.
Good to know that information results in such territorial hackle raising. I'm also impressed that the sheriff's department are journalists, otherwise that'd be a vaguely threatening appeal to authority that is as ineffective as rhetoric as it is sad.
|
|
|
Post by Transit Coalition on Nov 4, 2014 16:12:16 GMT -8
Lol nothing like an internecine bureaucratic turf war. Spectacular entertainment but sad to see such petulance from metro. Good to know that information results in such territorial hackle raising. I'm also impressed that the sheriff's department are journalists, otherwise that'd be a vaguely threatening appeal to authority that is as ineffective as rhetoric as it is sad. Actually, there is no turf war. You can say anything you want on this board. However, when an individual who assumes the Color of Authority, where he has none wants to report information that may ultimately prove to be untrue, there is a line that is being crossed from personal opinion or observation to that of reporter. We run real news stories on this bulletin board and comments from posters. People that are professionals in the news media generally have Sheriff or LAPD credentials, as that allows them to get across lines to write and photograph, whereas the general public doesn't have access. Current credentials show that you are the working press. Sorry, but this has crossed the line.
|
|