Demolition has been a big part of the project recently and will continue for the next few months as the area behind Union Station is prepared for the excavation of the second half of the underground bus terminal. I took the first photo below eight days ago from 16th Street. The area covered with white plastic contained small amounts of asbestos which has been mostly contained and removed. I took the second photo four days ago from the roof that’s attached to the back of Union Station. Jerry Nery, RTD’s DUS Project Manager, Luke O’Kelley of Union Station Advocates, and I climbed out of a window in RTD’s second floor offices to that roof for a unique perspective of the project.
Almost all of the passenger platforms and canopies behind Union Station have now been demolished, and most of the debris has been hauled away. After the new light rail and mall shuttle stations open for passengers in mid-July, the old stations will be demolished. Once excavation resumes, the historic tunnel will go. I learned from Mr. Nery that there is a second tunnel that is closer to 16th Street. I am not clear if that will remain or if it is also in the path of the bus terminal.
Wondering how the new bus terminal stacks up against the Market Street Station? Here is a photo of a photo on Jerry Nery’s office wall. It is an illustration drawn to scale of the two terminals.
In other news, backfilling and concrete work continue. As I write this, there are eight cement trucks lined up for the most recent pour at the entrance/exit ramp of the bus terminal.
Please see our Denver Union Station page at JobSiteVistor.com for more photos.
Thanks for the updates! Super stuff.
Us Denverites in Afghanistan are watching closely! 🙂
Great post. I think it’s great that we are working make union station the transportation hub of downtown again. What a great venue for both Denverites and tourists to come into everday!
Does anyone know what’s planned to happen at the old Market Street Station?
Ultimately it will be developed into several mixed-use buildings (probably similar to 16 Market Square) with the historic RTD HQ building retained and a public plaza occupying a portion of the Market Street side of the block. Exact details, design, etc. won’t probably be known for another 3-5 years, and even then its development will be dependent upon the strength of the market.
Hi Rick, I have a question for you. Why are they filling in the top of the box bus with dirt again before pouring the streets/sidewalks on top of it? I’m just curious as to why that’s a necessary step. Thanks!
Phillip, the grade of the entire area will be raised three to four feet to the approximate level of the current light rail station. I’ll answer your question with my best guess: using dirt is the most practical and economical way to accomplish the elevation gain. I’ll continue to speculate: dirt may also provide noise and vibration insulation between the underground passenger terminal and the surface streets and tracks. Keep in mind that Chestnut Place, Wewatta Street, 17th Street, and eight sets of railroad tracks will be on the roof of the bus terminal.
Thanks, Rick! That makes sense. It just seemed strange to me considering they’ll have to excavate along the sides of the bus box again for the development occurring along 17th Street, but there must be some processes I’m unaware of to keep everything stable while that’s happening.