Over the past week, construction has progressed on all fronts, but there has not been much new activity until today. The photos below show the progress since April 1 when I did a comparison in Update #5.
Notice the growing size of the bus box hole. It appears that, as of the end of today, the hole has reached its ultimate width. It will eventually be twice as deep and twice as long once it reaches the west side of the historic station.
See below for shots from opposite sides of the foundation and wall that will be part of the new light rail station. The furthest portion of the foundation looks like a concrete sidewalk which was poured today. Closer than the concrete part is horizontal rebar that has become concrete since I took the photo three hours ago. The upright portion is also rebar. You can compare progress of this part of the project by going back to Update #4 on March 31.
I am trying to find out what this new machine is (see below). In the meantime, I am conducting the first DenverInfill Union Station Update Quiz. What is this thing?
In his blog of April 7, Ken introduced JobsiteVisitor.com. I frequently upload photos to that site, most of which do not appear on DenverInfill.com. I suggest that you follow the link below and cruise around the site. You might especially enjoy the tab titled “Plan View” to see photos that I take from the same locations each week. It’s a good way to follow construction progress. So far there are three weeks of photos from locations where the view is constantly changing.
Please see our Denver Union Station page at JobsiteVistor.com for more photos.
Rick,
That’s a pneumatic rock drill. It’s used to drill bore holes for all sorts of fun activities, such as packing with explosives.
Though I’m sure that this one has another purpose.
Paul, I do not yet have the official word from Kiewit, but your answer to the quiz question is credible to me. Therefore, I am awarding to you the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip on the 16th Street Mall Shuttle to the Union Station project from RTD’s Market Street Station. Congratulations!
Upon further inspection and armed with your description, I now see that the machine is drilling holes diagonally through the shoring wall. I suppose the holes will provide anchors to prevent the wall from collapsing.
I would love to see some of those ultra-sized mining trucks working in this area. They would have all that dirt removed in about 2 days. 🙂
Ive heard that the train traffic that goes in front of the Manhattan and Glasshouse is being re-routed sometime this Spring. It might just be a unsubstantiated rumor. Has anyone gotten any verification of this? Sure would be nice to not have the noise for while!
Hi neighbor, I too would enjoy the lack of freight trains for a while. However, I don’t think the rumor is true. The source of the story may be confusing freight trains with Amtrak trains.
Here’s my understanding of train track changes. The tracks immediately behind Union Station will be temporary removed to enable continued digging of the bus box hole to the western edge of the station building. During that time, Amtrak’s passenger terminal will move to the “lighting building” (I don’t know the real name of the building) that is just north of where 20th Street passes under Wewatta Street. On the right side of the home page at denverunionstation.org is a link to a page about Amtrak “parking and other activities around the Station.” Unfortunately, the page has no relevant information. I point it out in case you want to check it at a later date when information about the temporary relocation may appear.
That third picture reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine land.
Great updates!
The construction going on next to the CML tracks (3rd and 4th pictures) with all the horizontal and vertical rebar looks to be a retaining or barrier wall. A sidewalk would not need all of that rebar. Plus the notch in the ground is used as a design element for resistance against sliding (walls are designed against sliding and overturning)
That equipment is used to install tiebacks either by pushing them in or drilling and grouting, its hard to tell exactly what it is…the wall you see with the wood lagging is called a soldier pile wall and will be part of the soil retaining system, at least temporarily. If you could get a close up of the manufacturer it would be easier to tell exactly what it is.