WestLRT Construction Transgression thread

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by Muta

And now, you will soon too! I guarantee you will feel my pain....

We feel this pain every day. I will take some photos this weekend - essentially we look over the big trench and temporary bridge on 17th just east of 69th. Last Saturday the jackhammers were making the plates in the kitchen cupboard shake.

Only two more years!

[algernon]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'm still amazed that Bow Trail (between 33rd and 29th Ave) Hasn't fallen into the giant trench they're dug right alongside the road. While most of the cut/cover work has long sloping edges on the sides, this particular area has a sheer vertical side on the side that borders the new Bow alignment. (if that makes any sense).

One good rainfall and I can see Bow just caving into the trench.

Maybe they had workers bussed in that day from Sudantown? Did they look like little Mogadeshians?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Why is that pit so massive? Didn't think that station was that big.

There's kind of three things going on in that area. First is the tunnel, which is at its deepest at the station area I believe. Second is the station itself (platforms, stairs, etc.).

The other thing is that there is an underground parkade and an above ground mixed use retail/office building that also serves as the main station head. Part of the parkade is actually being built underneath 33rd Street in a similar fashion to how The Bow's parking structure was built under 6th Avenue downtown.

Here's an elevation drawing showing the station cross-section, the underground parkade (partially under 33rd Street), and the above-ground office/retail building.




Here's a rendering of the above ground office/retail/station head building.

[frinkprof]

Here's some pictures I took today.

Sirocco Station

From the ground


From above


The long trench you can see is where the platform for the station will be.

Signal Control Facility on the NW corner of 17th Avenue and Sirocco Dr./Costello Blvd.



They have cut into the hill and excavated here. The walls are shotcrete and the orange marks you can see are anchor bolts, which are for the stability of the structure and the hill behind it.

[stevinder]

Thanks for posting those frinkprof.

[GirlySports]

Somewhat LRT related. What the heck was wrong with the traffic lights this morning?
They have set up some new ones because of the LRT construction. Going on Eastbound Bow Trail, the traffic lights at 37th ST and 26th ST took FOREVER to turn green. Why? There's no traffic going west, south or north. Traffic was backed up from 26 ST all the way back to Sarcee Trail not because of accidents or stalls but because lights wouldn't turn green.

City planners failing!

[chemgear]

Traffic looked sweet last night - Westbound avenues were backed up all the way to the Bow til at least 6?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Traffic looked sweet last night - Westbound avenues were backed up all the way to the Bow til at least 6?

Yup I got caught in that too.

I really think it's the lights. There were no accidents or anything.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by fotze

My buddy said the intersection at 26th has been changed and the turn lane south onto 26th only allows 3 cars so it fills up instantly backing up the left lane. If thats the case they should just disallow turns there or something unless its a temporary thing. Absolute sh%tshow there yesterday. My kid goes to Alex Ferguson on 26th there and I guess a couple kids have been brushed by impatient shortcutters.

Going eastbound this morning they did disallow left turns onto northbound 26th ST. Still didn't help

[Bill Bumface]

That's incredible. 26 St was the reason when I crossed 4th ave at 5:45pm it was stopped completely dead? That must have been a fun drive for half the city.

[frinkprof]

Here's some pictures from today.

Sirocco Station


Sarcee/17th Interchange


Substation on NW corner of Sarcee Trail and 17th Ave.


Substation at Christie Park Gate and 17th Ave.

[GirlySports]

What is the substation for?
I aslo noticed there's a new park and ride near the SW corner of Sarcee and 17th (on top of a hill). Is that for the Sirrocco station? Seems a strange place for it.

[shermanator]

Also, the elevated section of track has now passed Sunalta Station and is wrking towards the Bow/Crow interchange.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What is the substation for?

To crank up the voltage so the trains can make the hill!?

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

What is the substation for?
I aslo noticed there's a new park and ride near the SW corner of Sarcee and 17th (on top of a hill). Is that for the Sirrocco station? Seems a strange place for it.

The substation is what draws power off the grid and transforms it to the power ("traction power") needed to run the trains and feeds it through the overhead catenary wires. For the existing lines, there is usually one near every station, or sometimes somewhere near the middle of a longer section of track.

The Sirocco Park N' Ride has actually been there for a number of years serving the route 301 BRT, but is seeing heavier use now that the one at Westside Recreation Centre has had to close due to construction. It will remain in use after the line opens, and is located where it is due to lack of space directly adjacent to the Sirocco Station platform.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I'm still amazed that Bow Trail (between 33rd and 29th Ave) Hasn't fallen into the giant trench they're dug right alongside the road. While most of the cut/cover work has long sloping edges on the sides, this particular area has a sheer vertical side on the side that borders the new Bow alignment. (if that makes any sense).

One good rainfall and I can see Bow just caving into the trench.

I've been down there recently, as they cut the ditch they drill deep holes for re-bar and the whole side is covered with concrete under a mesh.

[FurnaceFace]

The light at 26th st is/was F'd up pretty bad. The new lights have the countdown timer for people crossing Bow trail and it started at 47 seconds! I think/hope they got it better calibrated now.

Also regarding the mixed use building at the Westbrook stop I believe they are moving the Library there.

It's unfortunate this traffic pain is going to coincide with the time of year when traffic is highest. It would have been great if the pain started in June and ran through the summer.

I'm also really surprised it'll be another two years to get'er done. It seems they are making great strides all along the line. The only thing which I know is behind is they were supposed to have the bike/pedestrian overpass at ~ 24th st up by the end of October and it's nowhere near ready.

[frinkprof]

Picture from today.

Sirocco Station

[shermanator]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I'm also really surprised it'll be another two years to get'er done. It seems they are making great strides all along the line. The only thing which I know is behind is they were supposed to have the bike/pedestrian overpass at ~ 24th st up by the end of October and it's nowhere near ready.

I heard that Sunalta station was 3-4 weeks behind in getting the concrete poured due to the horrible summer weather, resulting in the elevated track having to wait going through the station. I think they may have made up for it with the nice October / November though.

[Nage Waza]

I had some issues with a few other traffic lights along the construction. I called 311 on a few occasions, and they seem to have improved the timing. The lights at 17 ave westbound at 69 street took forever, especially due to the extra long light and turn signal for the westbound traffic. The problem being that the delay was taking place at 7 in the morning, when there is very little westbound traffic.