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Post by rajacobs on Jan 29, 2013 12:54:20 GMT -8
One last thought. I've been watching them dig a trench through the middle of Exposition eastward through the middle of the Palms intersection and then through apartment building parking spaces. White chalk lines indicate that the digging will continue across a front lawn and then angle back to the street.
Are there any plans afoot to widen or move exposition a few feet to accommodate the bike path that I believe is suppposed to be off street be south of the Expo line in this location? If not--what's the need for all the digging?
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 29, 2013 20:48:57 GMT -8
One last thought. I've been watching them dig a trench through the middle of Exposition eastward through the middle of the Palms intersection and then through apartment building parking spaces. White chalk lines indicate that the digging will continue across a front lawn and then angle back to the street. Are there any plans afoot to widen or move exposition a few feet to accommodate the bike path that I believe is suppposed to be off street be south of the Expo line in this location? If not--what's the need for all the digging? The bike path will be off the street, Class 1 in the right-of-way. I think AT&T is finally bringing fiber-optics Internet and TV to Palms and that's what the digging you saw on or near the sidewalks but I might be wrong.
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 30, 2013 11:02:04 GMT -8
I think AT&T is finally bringing fiber-optics Internet and TV to Palms and that's what the digging you saw on or near the sidewalks but I might be wrong. AT&T probably hasn't started the work yet -- although I saw them marking the sidewalks. I saw the utility work on the east side of the intersection and it seems to be the continuation of the DWP gray pipes. Surprisingly, there was no (bridge or utility) work at all west side of the intersection -- highly unusual.
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Post by rajacobs on Jan 30, 2013 20:41:00 GMT -8
Some weeks ago I reported that Los Angeles City planning is seeking to extend Robertson southward from the Santa Monica freeway underpass, through the Albertson's shopping center across Venice for a direct connection to Culver Bl.
Tonight, Skankos Rados said the project has heard nothing of the sort and no plans are in place to accommodate a "new" Robertson. ...So, I guess any such thoughts are in the thought phase that and does not include coordination with Expo Phase II. ...But how they could manage to build the Robertson connection after the Venice bridge approach is complete, is beyond me.
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Post by rajacobs on Jan 30, 2013 20:46:18 GMT -8
...As for the Phase II community meeting at Vista del Mar, I picked up little new information--other than a representative from Skankos Rados reported that the bike path WILL go behind the houses on Northvale, then somehow connect back up to Northvale and enter the ROW. Apparently this is a City of LA activity, not a project activity.
It was different from other Vista meetings--I remember all the anger and protests from some Cheviot Hills folks. Tonight it was nothing more that Skankos Rados reporting on their work and except for one distraught woman (about what I couldn't figure out) everyone seemed to just listen and ask basic questions.
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Post by darrell on Jan 30, 2013 22:07:08 GMT -8
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Post by darrell on Jan 30, 2013 22:13:16 GMT -8
And a photo on Cloverfield this afternoon. Driving south I thought how for ever more there will be this bridge in the distance! Also, I've standardized on 800 pixels wide and 16:10 aspect ratio here and on friends4expo.org, but have been envying others' recent wider photos. So here's a test at 960 wide and 16:9 (HD).
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Post by Gokhan on Jan 30, 2013 23:28:04 GMT -8
Nice update, Darrell.
As Darrell mentioned, they are saying that they will finish most of the visible work in 2013 and it will look like there is a working rail line by the end of the year. The rest of the construction, which will take another year and a half, will be mainly electrical work, finalizing the stations, and ATP. They said the line will open around mid-2016. Hopefully things will go smoothly and it could happen earlier.
No problems right now. The most complicated utilities are on Colorado.
They also expect the CPUC issue to be resolved within a month. They can't start installing the tracks before that.
The northern edge of the west section of the existing Motor Avenue bridge (abutment) is at the border with the Caltrans freeway right-of-way. Since they need to widen the bridge, there are tedious permits needed from Caltrans to start this work. East section of the bridge is fine -- the border is 12 ft away from the existing bridge there.
As Darrell said, gladly concrete walls and landscaping removal has been avoided in the Northvale trench.
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 1, 2013 11:04:05 GMT -8
Forms were coming off from the crown of the support column for the new Palms bridge this morning. It looks slightly different than in the renderings with a rectangular rather than square shape. It looks like there will be MSE walls around the west abutment. They also need to build a retaining wall on the freeway side.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Feb 1, 2013 11:08:15 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 1, 2013 11:38:03 GMT -8
National Blvd will soon have full closures at night for falsework installation:
What: Full Closure of National Boulevard for Falsework Installation for Bridge Construction
When: Monday, February 11, 2013 through Friday, February 22, 2013
Work Hours: 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Monday through Friday (Night work only)
Where: Construction activities will be located on National Boulevard north of the intersection of National/Palms Boulevards
Work Description:
Construction crews will erect falsework using timber and steel forms as a mold for the cast-in-place concrete bridge that will span over National Boulevard.
Traffic Impacts:
· National Boulevard will be closed to all traffic between Manning Avenue and Exposition Boulevard throughout the falsework installation during nighttime hours.
· Westbound National Boulevard traffic will be detoured at Bagley Avenue.
· Northbound Palms Boulevard traffic will be detoured at Exposition Boulevard.
· All traffic lanes will be open to through traffic during daytime hours.
· Electronic message boards will be used to advise of the closures and manage traffic detours to update commuters as necessary.
· Directional signage and/or flagmen will be used to safely direct vehicles and pedestrians around the construction zone.
· Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced at all times and signage with specific restrictions will be in place in all construction areas.
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Post by roadtrainer on Feb 3, 2013 7:58:19 GMT -8
Dwight did say that Skanska would hit the floor running out the gate in 2013, they are a breath of fresh air, and I like the progress I see. their not at all like the evil flatiron, and shame on you knuckle heads comparing Skanska with other contractors. In my book there is no comparison!
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 4, 2013 11:24:33 GMT -8
This morning installation of falsework for the Palms bridge started with a steel structure in front of the east abutment.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Feb 4, 2013 16:56:36 GMT -8
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 8, 2013 12:26:50 GMT -8
All lights are now green for Expo Phase 2. The Expo Authority issued a full notice to proceed at yesterday's board meeting, citing that the Supreme Court didn't issue an injunction and it will take up to a year for a hearing to be set.
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Post by matthewb on Feb 8, 2013 14:20:18 GMT -8
Excellent, it will be great to see some new track.
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 8, 2013 15:42:46 GMT -8
Regarding tracks, Expo board strangely refused Metro's request to install concrete ties instead of wooden ties for special work, saying CEO Art should reconsider it. There was supposed to be a report on that at this board meeting but I don't know what happened...
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Post by gatewaygent on Feb 8, 2013 15:47:38 GMT -8
If only Phase II could be built in it's entirety and handed off to Metro for testing in that year.... However, I'm sure the next lawsuit from NFSR would claim that it was built way too fast and that Metro should let it "cure" for a year or so until a calcium rich patina builds on all the bridge structures.
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Post by jamesinclair on Feb 9, 2013 11:42:18 GMT -8
Regarding tracks, Expo board strangely refused Metro's request to install concrete ties instead of wooden ties for special work, saying CEO Art should reconsider it. There was supposed to be a report on that at this board meeting but I don't know what happened... Maybe theyve read about experiences around the country where the concrete ties had to be replaced in under 15 years, while wooden ones are going strong after 80.
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Post by darrell on Feb 9, 2013 12:06:25 GMT -8
Regarding tracks, Expo board strangely refused Metro's request to install concrete ties instead of wooden ties for special work, saying CEO Art should reconsider it. There was supposed to be a report on that at this board meeting but I don't know what happened... Maybe theyve read about experiences around the country where the concrete ties had to be replaced in under 15 years, while wooden ones are going strong after 80. Wood ties seem to have more flexibility than concrete ties, and I've seen on a number of other lines use of concrete ties everywhere except special work (e.g. track switches) where wood ties are still used. So I'm surprised at Metro's request here.
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 10, 2013 12:51:20 GMT -8
Maybe theyve read about experiences around the country where the concrete ties had to be replaced in under 15 years, while wooden ones are going strong after 80. Wood ties seem to have more flexibility than concrete ties, and I've seen on a number of other lines use of concrete ties everywhere except special work (e.g. track switches) where wood ties are still used. So I'm surprised at Metro's request here. I don't see how the mechanical flexibility of wood help, if not hurt. Concrete ties last much longer than wooden ties and that's probably the reason Metro wanted them. The caveat with concrete ties for special trackwork is that they need to be custom cast because the connection points on concrete ties are fixed and special trackwork requires varying connection points. (With wooden ties, connection points are arbitrary.) This results in substantially higher cost for concrete ties for special trackwork.
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 12, 2013 0:35:35 GMT -8
A lot of falsework already in only 2-1/2 hours for the new Palms bridge.
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Post by rajacobs on Feb 12, 2013 0:57:52 GMT -8
Ditto, a lot of false work going up! ...Pictures taken about 11:55PM, Feb 11, 2013 A view of the west side of Palms/National: A view of the girders spanning Palms/National: Approaching the pedestrian underpass: Pictures underneath the falsework:
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Post by metrocenter on Feb 12, 2013 8:10:04 GMT -8
Wow, fantastic pictures! Very dramatic!
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Post by rajacobs on Feb 12, 2013 9:14:49 GMT -8
...A compact camera, the Sony RX-100, that exceeds in quality any DSLR I've touched; no retouches!
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Post by bobdavis on Feb 12, 2013 23:54:18 GMT -8
I wonder if any of those beams spent part of last year supporting the I-210 bridge (Iconic Freeway Structure/Basket Bridge)?
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Post by bzcat on Feb 13, 2013 12:59:24 GMT -8
I saw a truck delivering rails to the construction site on Westwood Blvd this morning. Isn't it too early for rail installation?
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Post by Gokhan on Feb 13, 2013 13:08:11 GMT -8
I saw a truck delivering rails to the construction site on Westwood Blvd this morning. Isn't it too early for rail installation? Since steel prices fluctuate, they actually buy the rail when they think it's cheapest and then store it for several months. They need to first weld the rail before it can be installed, which will take a while. I was told that ideally they want to finish the bridges first because it would make it harder to install the rail in segments. Also, CPUC still hasn't ruled on the rehearing and rail cannot be installed until then, except at more than 1000 ft away from the crossings. Of course, before rail, grading needs to be finished, ballast-retaining walls need to be cast, weed cloths need to be layed, subbalast and ballast need to be poured, and the ties need to be placed.
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Post by Alexis Kasperavičius on Feb 16, 2013 19:10:51 GMT -8
Lots of new pictures from the field as well as pics from this morning showing the repair of the junction at Washington and Flower. www.flickr.com/photos/expoline-part-2Also, video of the new frog being installed and adjusted:
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Post by RMoses on Feb 18, 2013 19:02:06 GMT -8
Colorado still open eastbound between 4th and 5th, all reports stated it was to close today. Did they forget it was a holiday?
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