What to expect in January 2015
The locations for the work listed below are shown on the project map.
1. Continue digging for the underground light rail station
Approximately 40 percent (or 50,000 cubic yards) of soil has been excavated as of December 2014. Crews have excavated down to approximately 40 feet below ground on the northern end and 10 feet below ground on the southern end of the light rail station box. Crews have finished installing the struts across the top of the light rail station box.
Activities this month include:
- Removing dirt and materials using bulldozers
- Installing wood planks or "lagging" between the vertical metal piles
- Drilling cable tie-backs and installing soil nails to hold the walls during excavation activities
- Hauling dirt and materials offsite using Brooklyn Avenue Northeast (approximately 10 trucks daily)
Crews will dig until they reach about 95 feet below ground. Excavation will be ongoing through spring 2015.
2. Continue restoring the sidewalks along Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 43rd Street
In December, crews removed the temporary asphalt and installed curb and gutter in this area.
Activities this month include:
- Pouring concrete for the sidewalks (weather dependent*)
- Installing a pedestrian handrail near the intersection of Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 43rd Street
A temporary pedestrian detour will be used during this work. Flaggers will help pedestrians get around construction. Ugly Mug Café and Brooklyn Avenue Dental are open for business.
3. Begin roadway work along Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 43rd Street
Crews will repave sections of Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and Northeast 43rd Street to create a seamless transition for motorists between the new roadway bridge and adjacent roadways.
Activities this month include:
- Removing temporary asphalt placed this past spring and summer
- Repaving Brooklyn Avenue Northeast at the intersection with Northeast 43rd Street (weather dependent*)
- Repaving Northeast 43rd Street at the alley just west of University Way Northeast (weather dependent*)
* Pouring concrete and laying asphalt are weather-dependent activities. If it is too cold or too wet, work may be postponed.
4. Continue installing electrical utilities to power construction activities
Activities this month include:
- Installing electrical and mechanical systems
Other project-related activities include surveying and the installation of ground monitors above the future light rail tunnels.
Construction impacts:
- Closure of Northeast 43rd Street between Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and the alley to motorists until spring 2015.
- Pedestrian detour near the intersection of Northeast 43rd Street and Brooklyn Avenue Northeast during sidewalk work.
- Closure of the alley at Northeast 43rd Street during daytime work hours (typically 7 am to 7 pm) during roadway work. A section of Northeast 43rd Street just west of University Way Northeast, the "Ave," will be open for local business deliveries. Road work will not impact Brooklyn Avenue Northeast access to U Manor garage or the UDPA parking lot.
- Intermittent parking and access impacts along Northeast 43rd Street during daytime work hours.
- Frequent truck traffic on area roads and on the project site delivering materials and hauling materials offsite. Expect an average of four trucks per hour during excavation (daytime hours).
- Trucks delivering large loads during the early morning hours.
Crews will work to minimize impacts, such as noise, dust, debris, and access impacts during the work.
Noise:
- Noise from breaking up and removing existing asphalt and materials along Northeast 43rd Street and Brooklyn Avenue Northeast
- Noise from placement of metal plates, gutters, and other heavy materials.
- Noise and low-level vibration during drilling of cable tie-backs and soil nails during excavation.
Dust-debris:
- Dust from soil removal and pouring of concrete.
- Wheel washing stations to minimize truck debris track-out onto city streets.
Equipment: bulldozers, dump trucks, concrete trucks, vacuum trucks, excavators, jackhammers, cranes, generators, water treatment systems, street sweepers
Schedule: Work hours are typically Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Intermittent weekend and evening work may be scheduled. Construction schedules are subject to change. Notifications will be distributed for significant changes.
What's Next?
Roadway paving is one of the last activities to occur before crews can re-open Northeast 43rd Street between Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and the alley. Next steps include installing traffic signage and striping the roadway. Crews will re-open Northeast 43rd Street between Brooklyn Avenue Northeast and the alley to one-way eastbound traffic by early spring.
