What damage has occurred in the construction zones during all the current rains ?
More construction photos have been posted to Metro's blog:
http://thesource.metro.net/2017/02/16/fresh-pics-crenshawlax-line-construction-2/
Hard for a visitor to get underground shots :-).
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
The irony is that we are staying there so we can go look at the San Gabriel Trench hole-in-da-ground operation....Will take a look on foot where I can.
mudchicken (1-30):
So, you admit that you “no longer recognize it,” the LAX (airport) area and the ex-Santa Fe Harbor Line. I was a kid in the 60’s and have seen the area evolve, but I, like you, must admit to now having difficulty recognizing the area by the ex-AT&SF track!
Reshown December 31, 2016 dawn view, looking south with Century Blvd. the bottom cross street
Enjoy your visit to that area … and give yourself plenty of time to hike (“hike”) around the area. You will regret it if you don’t!
Best,
K.P.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
I get to visit my old territory next week and I'm getting ready to admit I no longer recognize it. I'll be staying about a quarter mile from the now replaced MP 13.1 hump bridge over Century Blvd. on the severed Harbor Sub. with the rest of my AREMA tribe. Thanx for the preview.
Construction progress is slow but steady. At the south end of the new line, the wood framing on the wye is being removed. Finally I was able to get some shots of the trench near 104th Street:
Looking south we see the multiple pipe supports which will probably be in place until the trench walls and floor are complete and self supporting.
Looking north we see the future 'roller coaster' where the trains will go from a trench to the Century Blvd flyover.
The final picture shows the ongoing wall construction next to the short 104th Street 'tunnel', er road bridge.
No sympathy at all for the businesses just northwest of the Manchester Blvd flyover. The ROW is the LA - Inglewood border, and the inept City of LA let them build without enough parking or street access. All for the privilege of more regs and higher fees in LA.
OTOH the nearby LR station will be close to a new microbrewery and some great small restos on the Inglewood side.
K. P. HarrierAt Oak Street and Florence Ave., looking southwest now, another flyover of somesort lowers as it come northeast.
This is the east end of the flyover over the I-405 freeway. The bridge looks spectacular but I haven't figured out a good place to shoot it from.
K. P. Harrier Last Day of the 2016 Year Check … … on the Crenshaw-LAX Line Part “D” (of A-D) From this spot K.P. soon lost the routing northeastward. There seemed to be construction on the old BNSF Harbor Sub, and also up the center of Crenshaw Blvd. K.P. is hoping to extensive research this and take onsite photos in the next month or two. This will end the series.
Last Day of the 2016 Year Check …
… on the Crenshaw-LAX Line
Part “D” (of A-D)
From this spot K.P. soon lost the routing northeastward. There seemed to be construction on the old BNSF Harbor Sub, and also up the center of Crenshaw Blvd. K.P. is hoping to extensive research this and take onsite photos in the next month or two.
This will end the series.
Maybe this will be of use: http://la.curbed.com/2016/12/29/14120392/video-flyover-crenshaw-lax-light-rail
Looking east on Florence Ave. from Fir Ave., the line curves up on another flyover.
Part “C” (of A-D)
At Oaks Street and Florence Ave., looking southwest now, another flyover of somesort lowers as it come northeast.
Looking northeast:
The old Santa Fe grade crossing:
Continued in Part D
Part “B” (of A-D)
Up north a ways, at the east-west Manchester Blvd., another flyover is seen, above the old BNSF alignment (see the leftover track is roadway).
Those businesses across the street on the left (above) that probably paid good money for the property and built those building slantingly to be seen by the heavy vehicle traffic are probably not too happy that the Crenshaw-LAX flyover here will block much of the view of their properties from oncoming westward (leftward) vehicle traffic.
Another view with the old track on the lower left.
Looking southwest, with an aircraft on approach to LAX's north runways.
On the north side the flyover lowers, and Aviation Drive curves with a new street name, Florence Ave.
Continued in Part C
Part “A” (of A-D)
On Saturday, December 31, 2016 a way before dawn dispatch to the El Segundo area (CA) was taken care of, in the LAX airport area. Afterwards, the Crenshaw-LAX line was checked out.
Below are the results of a single shutter release by Century Blvd. and Airport Drive, looking south, the below one a very blown-up view of the first one.
That project has severe situations, as above, with an elevated track (left, first photo, south side) nose diving to go under (i.e., in a trench) a jet flight path and immediately elevates (right) to bride over a main roadway artery (Century Blvd.).
Vehicle traffic made it difficult to photograph the above dawn shot.
Even earlier, about a couple of blocks southwest of that above intersection, the south slope of that flyover is seen in the next photo.
The light came from business on the road where the camera was.
A view of the flyover lowering into a trench, in less light:
Continued in Part B
MikeF90 and All:
Towards the end of the month, that last week, word is I’ll have a dispatch to right near that area, right by the 105 Freeway and LAX, reportedly before dawn. When the sun comes up I should be able to get some photos. Your great photos, MikeF90, are increasingly hard for me to interpret WHERE exactly they were taken from because things are change so fast! I need to get out that way and see it for myself.
It is unknown if I can find a vantage point for this or not, but I hope to use a telephoto lens to take a photo that shows Century Blvd., the LAX runways area, and the 105 Freeway and all the new light rail bridging all in one photo.
And, Mike, that link of the Crenshaw-LAX route northward a ways made me determine to try to get photos, maybe even of that digging machine if possible. If that dispatch falls through (not likely), I think I’ll get out that way regardless.
It is unknown if you have plans to get out that way and take more photos, but if you don’t I should have something to post around the end of the year.
Take care,
Another photo oriented progress report from the Metro blog:
http://thesource.metro.net/2016/12/09/fresh-pics-latest-roundup-of-crenshawlax-line-construction/
Physical changes to this area have made it hard to recognize from when I worked in the area 35 years ago. A WWII era worker at North American or Douglas would find almost no landmarks from their time remaining.
NIGEL CORNWELLIt is great to see this line finally being built. I worked on the design of the extension from Aviation Blvd through El Segundo, and the wye to be able to extend service north on Aviation Blvd. was one of the key items of the project. That was in early 1988!
Slightly OT, but do you know why the stations west of Aviation were designed for only two cars? Most of the system platforms can accomodate three.
It is great to see this line finally being built. I worked on the design of the extension from Aviation Blvd through El Segundo, and the wye to be able to extend service north on Aviation Blvd. was one of the key items of the project. That was in early 1988!
My bad, I just enlarged the photo and it is plantings. is that some type of ivey? What can you tell us about it. Is there a ledge where it is planted? My depth perception in the photo does not show it to well and the screen showed it as dark but not very green. Thanks Mike.
Electroliner 1935Why does the lower edge of the wall look so ragged?
You mean those green plants?
MikeF90The wall is complete about two thirds of the way to 111th Street.
Why does the lower edge of the wall look so ragged?
The wall is complete about two thirds of the way to 111th Street.
A view of the wall where panels are being added.
The 111th Street rail bridge is complete. More walls will extend north to the trench alongside the LAX south runways.
End of update.
Here's another photo update from the project south end where the Crenshaw-LAX line will connect with the existing Green line in a wye.
Looking northwest, a view of both legs of the new wye.
Another view of the wye, taken from Hornet Way.
These elevated 'connectors' have two levels of cribbing. The bottom level may support concrete / steel structure that ties into the support pier seen at the right. The ultimate result will be a 'tray' that supports two tracks. I don't recall any more detailed views taken by Metro, perhaps I can badger them into this.
This is the north end of the Imperial Hwy rail bridge. Being constructed to the north is a ramp, probably of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) construction similar to the recently completed Colton flyover. The prefab concrete panels are made offsite. Conveniently, any fill dirt can come from the LAX trench excavation; two large piles are staged nearby.
To be continued ....
The TBM 'Harriet' has just punched through into the Leimert Park station box. See the Metro blog for pictures (warning, high res versions currently linked). The TBM will now be disassembled and brought back to Expo / Crenshaw to begin the second, parallel tunnel.
Metro has just posted a video of some TBM related work:
The TBM, named 'Harriet', has just punched into the future MLK Blvd station:
The precision navigation needed to pass through this prebuilt portal is impressive!
As of Saturday, June 25, 2016
Status of the LAX-Crenshaw Construction
Part II (of I-II)
The status of that going over Century Blvd., northward view:
Looking south again, the side walls are currently “I” beams and railroad type wood (lower left).
When first showing up on scene, those bridging pipes make a strong impression on one, especially how many they are ….
This will conclude the series.
Part I (of I-II)
Reference is first made to the “Sunset Route Two-Tracking Updates” thread, about the San Gabriel Trench, Page 239, and this photo therein:
Pipes are used to span the trench’s width, but the distance of length of how many is only a short one.
With the Crenshaw-LAX effort, look what the trench construction looks like as seen through a chain link fence, looking southward!
That piping also was put in to the north, reaching the south slope of the going over Century Blvd.
Continued in Part II
The TBM 'Harriet' has started tunneling from near the Crenshaw Expo station:
http://thesource.metro.net/2016/04/29/crenshawlaxs-tunnel-boring-machine-harriet-begins-tunneling/
After the first tunnel is complete to Leimert Park, parts of the TBM will be removed and the rest towed back to the north end where it will be reassembled to build the second tunnel.
Extension of the LAX/Crenshaw line north is being supported by West Hollywood area residents:
http://www.whamrail.com/
Unline their NIMBY Beverly Hills neighbors who continue to obstruct Purple Line extension, these people see the value of extending light rail north to connect with the Purple Line and the Red Line through a very high density area of the county.
Metro has just posted a February status report:
http://thesource.metro.net/2016/03/01/photos-crenshawlax-line-construction-february-update/
Also posted was a video of the TBM 'Harriet' being lowered into the ground next to the Crenshaw/Expo station:
The I-105 freeway was built about 25 years ago; provision was made for the future LAX light rail line to cross above Imperial Hwy:
Just to the south the line will connect to the Green Line at a wye; here is the western leg running to Redondo Beach:
Here is the eastern leg adjacent to the Green Line Aviation station. Note the 'ledge' for the future connector slab and possibly where a counterweight was.
Just to the east, the existing structure has a temporary support:
Perhaps some CE could explain why the above support was built that way. In earthquake country I would have expected stabilizing rods on both sides of the piers.
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