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Post by rubbertoe on Jun 30, 2011 14:05:30 GMT -8
Thought I would open a new thread devoted to IBS bridge construction, now that it has actually started. I think  After the GLFE e-mail stating that they would begin work this past Monday (6-27), it looks like nothing happened until this afternoon. I drove East and almost missed the workers because they were so far West of where the IBS will touch down in the median. Probably 1.5 miles West of the touchdown. Can't really tell from the picture what they were doing, perhaps preparing the ROW for construction vehicle entry/exit?  And here is a link to the video it was captured from. The workers are seen only 5 seconds in, while the remnants of the former median touchdown are at 1:40. This is a really good stretch to watch when the track laying starts too, since it is elevated above the East bound roadway, with the entire ROW plainly visible. I see that someone started a Baldwin Av. station thread. In the video, that would be at about 1:06 in, the bridge over Baldwin Av: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd1sQRXSkO8RT |
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Post by rubbertoe on Jul 6, 2011 5:45:30 GMT -8
Well, they seem to have actually started work. I drove by this morning on my way to work. Signs were up on the freeway signaling the ingress/egress entrance in 2500 feet, then 1000 feet. The road closure last night must have been to allow them to remove the barrier separating the freeway median from the HOV lane to build the construction entrance. The construction equipment will be able to use the entire median for staging/parking, once it has been leveled to some degree. The main entrance is about 3/4 of a mile from the work site. There were about 4 vehicles parked overnight, and one backhoe digging into the median area where the retaining wall will be built.
RT
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Post by rubbertoe on Jul 6, 2011 6:15:43 GMT -8
The authority also put out a nice video today describing the activity over the next several months...
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dane
Junior Member
Posts: 59
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Post by dane on Jul 6, 2011 11:06:19 GMT -8
Ha! ha! Anderson calls their drill "Big Stan". I wonder if that moniker is inspired by this:  |
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Jul 6, 2011 13:25:22 GMT -8
The authority also put out a nice video today describing the activity over the next several months... This really is a well done video. One very strange thing; in the concept drawing of the bridge they keep showing, all of the cars have German license plates! Weird. |
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Post by matthewb on Jul 6, 2011 15:36:52 GMT -8
One very strange thing; in the concept drawing of the bridge they keep showing, all of the cars have German license plates! Weird. Maybe they're Swedish because it's Skanska? |
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Post by rubbertoe on Sept 12, 2011 6:17:49 GMT -8
Per the most recent construction notice, and also a message sign that I saw yesterday, it looks like the drilling rig will be moved from the South side of the freeway to the median starting Tuesday morning from Midnight till 5:00am. The sign said to expect a full closure, and the website notice said that it might take 2 closure periods.
They were drilling the South foundation for most of last week. I haven't seen any large rebar structures, but the one intended for the first hole being dug might be further North up the ROW. We should find out momentarily. It could be that they use one overnight closure to move equipment across the freeway, and the other to drop the rebar into the first hole. When they did that at Wesley for the Expo line you could see that doing something of that scale next to moving traffic wouldn't be the best idea.
RT
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Post by rubbertoe on Sept 15, 2011 11:31:42 GMT -8
The Pasadena Star News has a story today about the over night rebar installation. The highlight of the story, however, is the 24 picture gallery showing the work that was done. Click the lower right of the picture to bring it up in "full screen" mode, then enjoy the 24 pictures  www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_18896963 |
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Post by jdrcrasher on Sept 15, 2011 16:28:57 GMT -8
^ Yeah, I saw that same article on the front page of the SGV Tribune today! (I think they and Pasadena Star News are owned by the same company). The photos are sweet, but the video is nice, too! bcove.me/z1i07n83 |
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Post by Gokhan on Sept 15, 2011 17:05:19 GMT -8
^ Yeah, I saw that same article on the front page of the SGV Tribune today! (I think they and Pasadena Star News are owned by the same company). The photos are sweet, but the video is nice, too! bcove.me/z1i07n83"Gold Line Bridge -- A Measure R Project." I like that. Although, I like the similar video I shot for the Expo Line better. Probably because it was in broad daylight. History now repeats itself with the Foothill extension. |
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Post by bobdavis on Sept 15, 2011 21:01:12 GMT -8
Yes, the Pasadena Star-News and the SG Valley Tribune (and the daily paper in Whittier) are all part of the same group. Their headquarters is in West Covina, just south of the Metrolink tracks east of Baldwin Park. Their editorial pages have given strong support to the foothill extension.
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Post by rubbertoe on Oct 17, 2011 13:29:59 GMT -8
I just received the Fall 2011 IBS construction update e-mail. In it, they mentioned that they have a "bridge cam" set up to monitor the construction progress. I e-maile'd them back asking if they could put that feed on their web site. Will let you all know what they respond with. I am assuming that a high definition continuous video feed is out of the question (Gokhan, you can e-mail your request for that separately ) RT |
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Post by Gokhan on Oct 17, 2011 15:51:31 GMT -8
(Gokhan, you can e-mail your request for that separately ) RT You actually gave me a good idea. Perhaps someone can set up a video feed at an Expo Line location and we can always see the Expo action from our computers. |
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Post by rubbertoe on Oct 21, 2011 14:12:25 GMT -8
Lots of concrete trucks lined up in the median today with a pumper at the end. Starting to fill in the 3' holes for the abutment foundations. Didn't get a good look at the work area since I was in the slow lane. Lots of guys on the job site though, including the South side. Falsework over the freeway will be going up in December.
RT
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Post by roadtrainer on Nov 7, 2011 20:49:53 GMT -8
Rubbertoe: How about stepping it up like Expoline fan and getting us some new construction Photo's --any effort is appreciated. Thanks --The Roadtrainer 
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Post by rubbertoe on Nov 8, 2011 6:44:07 GMT -8
Rubbertoe: How about stepping it up like Expoline fan and getting us some new construction Photo's --any effort is appreciated. Thanks --The Roadtrainer roadtrainer, That site is tough to photograph. There is nowhere to pull up and start shooting like with the Expo line. Basically, you are looking at a drive by while shooting video. I'll try and grab another one of these soon. I did drive by about a week ago. For the 3 main columns, there is still really nothing more than large rebar cages above ground. They are working on the smaller footings around the abutments, but even from the freeway that work is almost invisible. Driving 65mph looking backwards is also somewhat problematic When they start building the Santa Anita bridge and the other large projects I promise to flood the internet with photos. Expoline is doing an amazing job with the Flickr photos. I literally start my morning checking if there is a new batch of construction photos. RT |
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Post by rubbertoe on Nov 17, 2011 8:32:13 GMT -8
This isn't very good, but at about 1:40 in you get a quick look at the median work. The abutment in the median is almost ready to go. The most recent notification from the authority said they will start installing the forms around one of the 3 primary columns. The first work will be on the column seen at 1:57 in the video. When they start laying track, this will be a nice stretch to watch. youtu.be/nExnxuQFX3kA couple stills (abutment first):   RT |
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Nov 17, 2011 9:19:14 GMT -8
Is this the only bridge to be constructed on the Foothill Gold Line extension?
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Post by metrocenter on Nov 17, 2011 11:27:27 GMT -8
^ It's the only bridge being constructed right now.
The ROW for Phase 2A (to Azusa) also crosses over the San Gabriel River, and crosses over the 210 Freeway again near Irwindale/Azusa. Both bridges will be rebuilt.
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Post by LAofAnaheim on Nov 17, 2011 12:10:04 GMT -8
I just feel there is way TOO much focus on this 1 bridge for the Foothill extension, which is only $18M of a total budget of $700M. I want to see some real construction working, not just on a .1 mile segment.
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Post by rubbertoe on Nov 17, 2011 12:52:07 GMT -8
I just feel there is way TOO much focus on this 1 bridge for the Foothill extension, which is only $18M of a total budget of $700M. I want to see some real construction working, not just on a .1 mile segment. LA, The reason the focus is on the IBS and not the rest of the line (right now) is actually pretty simple. The overall project was broken up into two separate projects way back when: 1) The IBS, 2) the rest of the project. This was done so that the IBS construction could get started sooner as a "standalone" project without having to face the possible delays if it were part of the rest of the project. Turns out to have been a very wise decision. RT |
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Post by bobdavis on Nov 17, 2011 17:57:13 GMT -8
Right now the GLFE Authority and the contractor's personnel are doing a massive amount of "prep work" prior to the start of moving dirt, pouring concrete and laying track. It's rather like painting a house--if you do the prep work right, the project goes a lot smoother and the result lasts longer. Building a double track electric railway through a heavily built up suburban environment is many times more complex than grading and laying tracks through the "boondocks". The old carpenter's adage "measure twice and saw once" comes to mind.
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Post by rubbertoe on Dec 16, 2011 8:38:50 GMT -8
First person to take a picture of snow falling on the IBS wins the grand prize...  |
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Post by James Fujita on Dec 16, 2011 15:01:03 GMT -8
oh, I don't know. all you need is a reckless driver coming back from Arrowhead or Big Bear with a load of snow in the back of their pickup..... ;D
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Post by jdrcrasher on Dec 16, 2011 20:33:30 GMT -8
^ It's the only bridge being constructed right now. The ROW for Phase 2A (to Azusa) also crosses over the San Gabriel River, and crosses over the 210 Freeway again near Irwindale/Azusa. Both bridges will be rebuilt. Wait, won't it also have to cross Foothill just before the Azusa station? |
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Post by jdrcrasher on Dec 16, 2011 20:38:45 GMT -8
This was posted on Curbed a few days ago:  Neal Broverman? I know I know, we don't know precisely who took this photo, but the thing is, it's such a major update that i'm going to assume Neal took it... |
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Post by bobdavis on Dec 17, 2011 19:27:07 GMT -8
Yes, the Gold Line and the BNSF line to Miller-Coors in Irwindale will require a three-track crossing over Foothill Blvd/Historic Route 66 in Azusa. Designing a bridge or bridges to do this will be one of the challenges for the design-build team, and one of the reasons why construction of the main alignment won't start until the second half of next year. Doubling the crossing of Huntington Dr. (another segment of US 66) and 2nd Ave. in Arcadia will be another example of the difficulty in building a double track electric railway in a "built-out" environment. But I have my "sidewalk superintendant" hard hat and safety vest ready for the day that they pull the "first spike" from the former Santa Fe track.
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Post by rubbertoe on Jan 7, 2012 10:08:43 GMT -8
Falsework coming to an IBS near you in the coming two weeks. It will take 3 months to complete the work, with 20 overnight closures:  |
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Post by bobdavis on Jan 25, 2012 22:37:19 GMT -8
Report from tonights GLFE board meeting: The three pillars and the north/west abutment have been poured and are now "curing". Next week concrete pouring for the east/south abutment will be done. Falsework erecting for the span will start Feb. 20. GLFE and City of Arcadia personnel have notified residents in the area of the late-night closures of the east-bound lanes of the 210 Freeway, so they won't be surprised by construction noise and traffic at 3 AM.
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Post by rubbertoe on Feb 12, 2012 12:55:12 GMT -8
The falsework is going up, but still not across the freeway as of yesterday:
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