As always, it’s a delight to return home to see the progress at Union Station (I’ve been out of town for two weeks). This week, I’ll get us up to date with multiple posts.
Today, we will look at the most obvious change. There is new pile of dirt along 16th Street. Excavation of the second half of the bus terminal is in full swing. As was the case with the first half of the bus terminal, this pile of “clean” dirt will eventually be used to back-fill behind the walls and to cover the roof. During my photo tour yesterday afternoon, I overheard two Kiewit employees taking about the pile. One mentioned to the other that it contains (or will contain) 65,000 cubic yards of dirt.
Almost all of the concrete that was the light rail station and mall shuttle station has been broken up, removed, and sent to the recycling location. Similarly, the top several feet of dirt that was contaminated by a century of coal dust is being removed from the site.
Today’s quiz: What is missing in the photo above? As with the handful of previous Union Station quizzes, the prize for the correct answer is an all-expense-paid trip on the 16th Street mall shuttle.
Here is a bonus photo unrelated to the Union Station project. Last evening a train loaded with wind mill blades cruised through town. I counted 39 blades on 78 cars … yes, it took two cars to carry each blade.
Please go to our Denver Union Station page at JobSiteVistor.com to view 22 new photos including another one of the wind mill blades.
I’m not too sure what is missing other than a whole lot of dirt but it looks like they are getting ready to install the “tear-drop” shaped concrete pavers around the exhaust tubes. Glad you are back so I can get my fix of Union Station info.
Progress! I like that it’s a wind mill train (ok “turbine”), next to a coal train. Maybe next time it will be 2 wind trains.
“What is missing in the photo above?”
A crane?
Speaking of the 16th Street Mall shuttles, when are the new shuttles going to finally arrive? Weren’t the first ones supposed to be in service in January, 2011? What is taking so long, and will there be enough new shuttles to replace the very tired current ones?
Corey, I don’t know the answer. I will try to find out.
I’ll take a guess: Wewatta Street?
Ken, bingo! You got it. Looking carefully at each side of the photo, you can see stubs of Wewatta Street. The two-block section between 16th and 18th streets is gone. Feel free to collect your free-ride prize at any time.
BTW, there was no collusion between Ken and me on this quiz … in spite of the high value prize.
Hey Rick, question: I seem to recall the terminal going under DUS. How do they plan on accomplishing that without DUS collapsing or even settling? Large footers and support beams/posts?
Adam, the bus terminal will not go beneath Union Station. It will go up to the back of it. You may be thinking of the eight set of tracks that will be built on top of the bus terminal and behind the historic station. The eight set of tracks will be used as follows: one set for Amtrak; one for the new Ski Train; four for commuter rail, including the line to DIA; and two spares.
Ah. Ok. I wasn’t confused by the train tracks – that bit made sense. I thought for sure that I’d seen plans somewhere that called for an entrance to the bus terminal on 17th St going under DUS.
BTW, Google Earth has updated and shows a nice overhead shot of the DUS work. It’s a little behind, but not by much.
Ken I think you’ve got it!
Are any more Saturday toure planned ?
Yes, there will be one this Saturday. I’ll be posting a reminder probably tomorrow.