North LRT | Churchill to NAIT | Under Construction

[thatguy]

nice to see so much work through the winter period. i expect this summer a lot will happen and we will get a true sense of this project as the stations take shape.

[Mla]

I wonder if the whole line will be completed early because of how mild the winter was.

[highlander]

I don't have any inside knowledge, but my guess is that unless they are so far ahead that they can open at the beginning of January 2014 they will keep the opening at the end of April. Unless there was already considerable safety in the schedule I don't see it happening. Of course, if next winter is like this too...

[Edmcowboy11]

well it would be nice if opening of the line could be early, although I agree that the likelyhood of this happening is fairly slim.

[The_Cat]

Looking at the LRT, they have the first tunnel walls poured at 105 Avenue. Also, 105 Street (105-107 Avenue) will be closed:

http://www.edmonton.ca/transportatio...ar_19_2012.pdf

March update: http://www.edmonton.ca/transportatio...March_2012.pdf

[Edmcowboy11]

The MacEwan station is coming along nicely. You can start seeing where everything is going to be. Pictures from March 13, 2012






I can't wait for the 105st construction to start, gives me more pictures to take, lol.
I also wonder how far along they are so far in the tunnel excavation? Have they gotten to the Epcor cavity yet? Also I don't remember if it was mentioned but I wonder if they will be digging the tunnel section between Epcor and Churchill starting from Epcor or starting from Churchill?

[highlander]

i think they said somewhere that it would be dug through epcor. it makas sense, too, since it avoids having another big hole. the march update says that they are tunneling 24/7.

[sundance]

So why would they call it sequential excavation method when the term New Austrian tunnelling method is the more common term? Man some people, just when you learn one term they up and change it.

By using this method you don't have to rip up the street. But it has more risks to settling and cave ins than using a TBM (or mole).

[Edmcowboy11]

I haven't a clue, I just call the "big machine dig a big hole method"

[Medwards]

All Aboard!

March 15, 2012
Second North LRT construction season begins early

The City of Edmonton is taking advantage of the mild weather to officially launch the second full construction season for the North LRT to NAIT.
“We’re pleased to get a head start on what will be a very busy year for the North LRT project,” said Program Manager Brad Smid. “Construction activities are about to ramp up throughout the North LRT right-of-way, from Churchill Station to NAIT, in pursuit of our goal of creating more public transit options and enhancing the way we move in Edmonton.”
The first major task of the 2012 North LRT construction season begins Monday, March 19, when a two-block section of 105 Street between 105 Avenue and 107 Avenue will close until November.
Traffic will continue to flow across 105 Street at 106 Avenue and 107 Avenue, except for alternating month-long closures at each intersection. Motorists can detour using 101 Street or 109 Street to avoid travel delays. Pedestrian access will be maintained, except for portions of the crosswalk at 105 Street/105 Avenue and periodic closures across 105 Street at 106 Avenue/107 Avenue.
“105 Street is being reconstructed to accommodate LRT tracks in the centre of the roadway and single traffic lanes on either side, in each direction,” said Smid. “Similar to our approach with Kingsway last year, our goal is to focus all the required roadwork on 105 Street to a single construction season so we can minimize impacts to the area throughout the rest of the project.”
The 2012 North LRT construction season schedule also includes:

• Track crossing construction and major closures on 111 Avenue, 106 Street and Princess Elizabeth Avenue.
• Tail track construction just south of Health Sciences Station, to allow trains to safely switch directions to return to NAIT.
• Building the 700-metre tunnel between Churchill and MacEwan stations.
• LRT station structures at MacEwan, Kingsway/Royal Alex and NAIT.
• Concrete track slabs along the entire right-of-way.

The City of Edmonton would like to thank motorists, pedestrians, businesses and residents for their patience during construction.

For more information:

Lindsay Yarmon
Title Communications Officer Telephone 780-496-8191
780-914-5074 (cell)

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_governme...ll-aboard.aspx

[IanO]

St. Albert and Edmonton receive provincial funding for LRT study

March 16, 2012

Future transit between Edmonton and St. Albert received a boost on March 13, 2012 as Alberta Municipal Affairs approved a $250,000 grant towards an LRT alignment study. The Northwest LRT Concept Plan Study will look at developing an extension from NAIT station in Edmonton to a future transit centre near St. Albert, which is part of the Capital Region Board’s 30-year Transit Plan.
“Regional public transportation is vital to our future and collaborating with the City of Edmonton and the Province will help make it reality,” says St. Albert Mayor Nolan Crouse. “This funding helps us take that critical next step to build and link the St. Albert - Edmonton Transit Centre/Park and Ride with a future LRT terminal station, which will meet both the short-term and long-term transportation needs of our residents.”

Adds Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel: “The City of Edmonton has made expanding the LRT network our number one transportation priority. As Edmonton and the Capital Region continue to grow, it is vital that we work together with the Province to ensure reliable, efficient long-term transit solutions.”

The Northwest LRT Concept Plan Study is an estimated $1.1 million project that is expected to be completed by December 2012. It will identify the LRT route, station locations and track alignment within the approved corridor between NAIT station and the regional South Transit Centre/Park and Ride by St. Albert. Public consultation along the route corridor will also take place in 2012. The study and public input will inform a draft LRT Concept Plan.

St. Albert will receive information on the location, size and configuration of the land needed for the South Transit Centre/Park and Ride as it coordinates with the Edmonton northwest LRT terminal station in the Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC), located in the southeast corner of the intersection between St. Albert Trail and Anthony Henday Drive.

The $1.1 million project funding is broken down as follows:

City of St. Albert - $50,000
City of Edmonton - $800,000
Alberta Municipal Affairs Grant - $250,000

In October 2011, the City of St. Albert agreed to financially support the project up to $122,750. With the approved $250,000 grant from the Province’s Regional Collaboration Program, both cities are able to leverage those dollars; the City of St. Albert will now commit $50,000 for the study. The remaining $72,000 will stay in the City’s LRT Task Force/LRT Reserve.

The results of this study will support the cities’ joint approach to the Minister of Alberta Infrastructure to permit access to the TUC lands. This will allow St. Albert to proceed with building the South Transit Centre/Park and Ride.

http://www.edmonton.ca/city_governme...LRT-study.aspx

[darkmagnoblade]

can someone please explain this whole tail track thing or give me an image of what it would look like on our lrt line because im not understanding the whole point of it. If its anything like a x cross over witch we already have on the line between the stations why cant we just use that?

[Edmcowboy11]

I was having a look at the area where the tail track could potentially go. I can see that there is obviously some space so it is obviously doable. They haven't started work yet though, hopefully soon.

[The_Cat]

Looks like they're kicking a$$ on 105 Street. They're tearing it up already.

[darkmagnoblade]

WOW thanks for the answers there.......

[Medwards]

the two paralel lines are the main line, the lines that come off it are the tail track. Imagine Health Sciences station a bit north of the picture. Note that you can pull off the main line on to the tail track, and then come back on the other track, but to do so, you need the driver to switch ends. Doing that is possible on the main line, but would potentially impede other trains as the driver switches. Pulling off to the tail track won't impede other trains.

Also, perhaps you should use google. or give a bit more time for someone to answer your queries

[darkmagnoblade]

it doesnt take the driver that long to walk the length of the train on the main line does it? and i did use google and it was no help it just showed loops and didnt explain very well what the use was for

[Medwards]

Trains will be coming every 2.5 minutes when both lines are on. You also need to head the wrong way out of health sciences if you have the driver switch in the station...

[darkmagnoblade]

they should have put a crossover on the ramp that leads up to health sciences would have made things easier imo and it makes no sense why they never did make this tail track thing and pedway when they were making the station in the first place

[azzey]

They didn't built it all originally because the plans were not finalized when the station was built.

It makes far more sense to build what was needed at the time but with provisions for future additions, than to guess what will be needed and have to rip it out later anyway.

[Medwards]

When SLRT was built, plans were made for WLRT using university ave to 87ave to WEM... things change (for better or worse). The tail track (from my understanding) goes roughly where the track to WLRT could've gone.

[Edmcowboy11]

And as for the pedway I don't doubt that it has a whole lot more to do with the UofA, Edm Clinic North and South then it has to do with the LRT. Now this is only an assumption but I have a feeling that the UofA said we want a pedway to connect all three buildings and the they said, "hey let's ask if ETS wants to connect the station to the pedway at the same time."

[AAAAE]

So do we know the train lengths and service frequencies planned? I cannot find any info online about this.

[darkmagnoblade]

Originally Posted by AAAAE

So do we know the train lengths and service frequencies planned? I cannot find any info online about this.

well with service not running till 2014 i say maybe wait till next year sometime before they roll out numbers im still trying to visulize where the trains will be coming into churchill from i have a rough idea but im not too sure

[Medwards]

Trains will be coming into and out of churchill from directly north. If you go to the north end of the churchill platform, and look down the tunnel, you will see the tracks veer to the right but straight ahead, you will see where the cuts will happen, as they have long planned an connection for this.

[azzey]

Medwards' earlier post shows it fairly clearly:

Originally Posted by Medwards

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe in the photo above, we are seeing the break out wall of where the NLRT will head north from the existing line. I've used the image above to highlight where it is...

[Taras]

Here's my rendering of the possible tail track.

Noticed some preliminary markers and fencing placed in the area.

Also, I suspect they will need to swap out the wye switch for a Double Outside slip switch

[darkmagnoblade]

Originally Posted by azzey

Medwards' earlier post shows it fairly clearly:

no i get that its the path what about the northbound track will it be going into there as well because if so they will have to move there ac units or whatever those silver things are and the one piller there looks like its in the way of a swtich location

[highlander]

There's a second niche for the northbound track, and there's nothing in the way.

[Medwards]

actually, that stuff in the middle is just storage... and the northbound track would go in the space between the two pillars to the right of where the southbound track would come out of.

(you can't tell there's another cut out there, because its blocked by the pillar - go to Churchill station.... you'll see what I mean)

[darkmagnoblade]

Originally Posted by Medwards

actually, that stuff in the middle is just storage... and the northbound track would go in the space between the two pillars to the right of where the southbound track would come out of.

(you can't tell there's another cut out there, because its blocked by the pillar - go to Churchill station.... you'll see what I mean)

was there yesterday actualy i guess i will just have to wait till they punch though the wall to actualy get some better understanding of how it will look and im guessing they will have to shut down the southbound track to do most of that work im guessing

[Medwards]

yes, I would expect that there would be some unavoidable temporary closures while they connect the two lines... I'd imagine it would be the last part of the project, and they would try to have everything done over a weekend or something.

[darkmagnoblade]

im guessin there going to have to shut the whole line down when they have to put the crossover in unless they have a plan on how to do that without cutting everyone off does anyone know when tunneling is to begin and how long its going to take let alone how far they have to tunnel since they have made part of the tunnel in the epcor tower allready

[Medwards]

They will probably have contingency bus service between Stadium and Central for the affected area, and they will probably do it over several weekends to have the least impact. This would be no different that when they do maintenance on other parts of the line and have shut down a section of track.

The tunneling has already started... if you spent a few minutes on the city website, I'm sure you can find a pile of information... or even review this thread.

[rupikhalon001]

What happens if the driver has to go to the washroom ? They must have to wait till they get to the end of the line either CP or Clareview.

[darkmagnoblade]

Originally Posted by Medwards

They will probably have contingency bus service between Stadium and Central for the affected area, and they will probably do it over several weekends to have the least impact. This would be no different that when they do maintenance on other parts of the line and have shut down a section of track.

The tunneling has already started... if you spent a few minutes on the city website, I'm sure you can find a pile of information... or even review this thread.

i didnt see any mole machine or anything so how excatly are they doing the tunneling on this one then?

[highlander]

There's no mole, it's hand tunneled from the portal.

Regarding the track connection, I expect that it will be completed this spring and summer. I've heard several times that that's when the tail track will be constructed, and it only makes sense to do all the work that will disrupt the existing line all at once.

[highlander]

Originally Posted by AAAAE

So do we know the train lengths and service frequencies planned? I cannot find any info online about this.

5 minute service with all 4 car trains as soon as all the refurbished trains are back. They expect to roll out 5 cars in regular service in 2018. We should see 5 car trains at reduced frequency very soon to accommodate construction.

[jstock]

^ not for the NAIT line. 2 or 3 cars only. Review the ETSAB minutes on the City website.

[jstock]

Took the train today, and it looks like this is where the tail track will be going. It will start right after (just south of) the pedestrian crossing between 83rd ave and University ave.

[Edmcowboy11]

A few pictures from this past week.

[Vincent]

Cool. Thanks for the update!

[IanO]

Took a drive around the NLRT line... looking forward to 2012 progress on it.

[EveB]

Bet the paramedics (blue and grey building in picture 3) will be happy when then construction passes their place. Should be fairly quickly though given the general progress. I wonder if they're laying track right away or doing it all at the same time when the rail beds have been prepared for a decent stretch.

Eve

[Alex.L]

This line is going to be so nice with the tree canopy, then 'the castle' on route. Hope the rest of the line is at least nicely landscaped (but not overkill).

[The_Cat]

I think the city could get some mileage using those 70-foot canopies (from 106 street) during the rainy days in spring or summer.

[Axb]

i was on the LRT this morning and a new LRV was delivered, sitting by the coliseum station. It seems like its the SD160 because of the security camera sticking our from that blue cover when it's being wrapped up.

[jstock]

^^It was probably just a refurbished U2. I'm pretty sure the new SDs aren't coming until 2013.

[Axb]

I just happen to see another one on my way home. The one that I saw this morning was wrapped in blue plastic and it says Siemens on it. Then this one I just saw was wrapped in white that says bombardier on it,and for sure this is the old ones because the plastic was partially ripped off ready.

[Edmcowboy11]

So I'm curious how many more trains have to be refurbished and how many more new trains need to arrive. I know there is at least one train that is currently in service that has to be completely refurbished because it looks just horrid right now. The chairs and the floors definitely look like they have been in used for the past 20+ years.

[sundance]

Thanx for the pictures Cowboy. I wonder if those trees are ...
box elders.

[The_Cat]

They're pouring the second section of the tunnel wall at the 105 Avenue portal entrance. More construction on the MacEwan station platform.

[IanO]

Cool vantage today at lunch from Bell, sorry no pics, but good progress.

[highlander]

They're forming the station Platform. I' hoping to get a chance to visit inside the tunnel this spring. If it goes I promise pictures.

[envaneo]

^ That'd be awesome, looking forward to seeing them

[Edmcowboy11]

I'm mainly curious as to how far down the tunnel they are? As for the station, it seems to be coming along quite nicely.

[jstock]

Phase 1 of Churchill Station begins Sunday the 29th. Contractors will be fencing off approximately 1/3rd of the platform. This will be the same side as the current escalator reno. Approximately 3 feet (1m) of tiling will be removed. This will leave a space for the yellow bump strips to be installed.

Phase II will involve a closure of the other side for the same thing. This will coincide with the closure of the north escalator for complete removal and replacement. Installation of the new switchover tracks will occur at the same time as these retrofits in order to minimize total disruption time.

Completion by September, although the north escalator might take longer.

[envaneo]

This is good news.

[jstock]

Today at TIC:
Discussion of a tail track into the ECCA lands

[Medwards]

^ This file is currently not available

[Dialog]

Interesting; I checked it right after jstock posted it and it was there.

[jstock]

Must have just been live for the TIC meeting.
It was between 20-30 million for an extension into the ECCA lands. Just a storage tail track. potential crossover.

[The_Cat]

Spring 2012 Newsletter: http://www.edmonton.ca/transportatio...Newsletter.pdf

[jstock]

Red construction ribbon in the LRT tunnel north of Churchill going up.

[envaneo]

yeah,I noticed this on my commute this afternoon. must be getting ready for Sunday.

[cnr67]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

Spring 2012 Newsletter: http://www.edmonton.ca/transportatio...Newsletter.pdf

Great post!!!!!

[jagators63]

southbound track will be closed startng this sunday.

[jstock]

Fencing is up at Churchill

[The_Cat]

I took a look at the tunnel entrance today and I noticed that front-end loaders were hauling earth. I also timed one backing out of the eastbound tunnel and it took about 33 seconds, with the length of the loader taking three seconds. My calculation is that they've dug nearly 200 feet and they're past 102 Street.

[Hilman]

http://p.twimg.com/AsAfJSECMAABWaG.jpg

[The_Cat]

^ The big picture!

I heard that Edmonton's NAIT LRT line is about five months ahead of schedule. It looks like the first base layer of concrete has been poured along the 105 Street tracks.

[jstock]

Entering the tunnel (Note the construction ribbon and the gated barricades on the right half-behind the reflection):



Barricades up at Churchill:



Zoomed in (Note the south escalator construction and the barricades on the tracks):



Looking NW from Churchill Station:


North of Churchill Station:



And one more:

[Dialog]

Good shots, thx for posting!

[Montrosian]

Video of the tunnel excavation connecting the Future MacEwan station with the existing Churchill Station


http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...561/story.html

[jstock]

Video of NLRT tunnelling progress:
CLICK HERE













All photos by Bruce Edwards

Original Story at:
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/...dmontonjournal

[The_Cat]

Wow, they're really making progress. It will take some time to finish the tunnel, but 2 metres a day will mean about 250 days (125 times two tunnels), or about early 2013.

It looks like the tunnel from the MacEwan entrance doesn't have far to go before hitting EPCOR.

[The_Cat]

I saw some surveyors at 101 Street across from EPCOR and told me that both tunnels (from Grant MacEwan) have reached 101 Street. I imagine both of them will meet the EPCOR tunnel by the end of the month.

[Edmcowboy11]

Cool!

[jstock]

The platform at Churchill has been chipped away on the one side. Yellow warning tiles going in.

[envaneo]

Nice photos, thanks for sharing

[jstock]

Work on Churchill platform continues:



Work on the track switch(es?) continues:

[jstock]

Quite the Crossover they have here!


I added red lines to show the tracks:

[Edmcowboy11]

Thanks for the pictures, great shots, saves me from going myself. Although with that said I'll probably go there anyways, lol.

[The_Cat]

Looks like the first piece of the MacEwan station roof (pre assembled) is waiting and ready to go.

[dtedmguy]

^ I might be missing something, but isn't the intent to eventually have the Grant MacEwan station somehow incorporated into the new arena?

If so, isn't it kind of a waste of money to be building a station that will eventually get replaced a year and a half or so down the road?

[Medwards]

^ I think you are mistaken... macewan station will be next to the arena, but not incorporated into the arena.

[Vincent]

And then people will wonder why it's named after the college two blocks away and not the arena right next door.

[Edmcowboy11]

Well by the time they have the ramps onto the platform the station really will only be a half block away. The station will have a pedway/sidewalk that will probably be only steps away from the new arena but even if you look at the latest renders of the arena it shows the LRT station sitting next to the arena.

[dtedmguy]

My bad. I was picturing something similar to what's going on at Health Sciences where the station was built and now it's getting all renovated so that the pedways can be connected to it and the various medical buildings surrounding it.

They keep talking about money needed for an 'lrt link' for the arena. I figured it would be a similar situation where they build the MacEwan station for 2014 and then in 2015 are taking it apart for the 'link' to the arena.

[highlander]

The roof you're talking about may be the substation. There is what looks like a permanent structure there.

[sahlgoode]

Darren, and I went on a photo walk this week-end, and wound up on the site. I snapped off this 14 image panorama of the expansion.

LRT Expansion Expanded by sahlgoode, on Flickr

The 22.8 mb version http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8165/7...c017ede0_o.jpg

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by jstock

Quite the Crossover they have here!


I added red lines to show the tracks:

Humm. So judging by that picture, they are installing a sissor cross-over north of Churchill. This would then allow a NB train at Churchill to go on the NB track to claireview, NB track to NAIT or cross-over and go the wrong way on the SB track to NAIT; or from NAIT cross-over to the NB platform at Churchill.

I wondered why they needed the cross-over here when there already is a cross-over south of Churchill Station. But then, I thought it had to do with trains from the OMC being able to get to NAIT at the start of the day and then back at the end of the day. but this configuration doesn't seem to do that.

From the OMC - a train arriving at Churchill will be on the southbound track, it won't be able to use the cross-over to the NB platform - so it must then reverse and run wrong-road towards NAIT. Or it could cross-over at 95 St then run wrong-road to Churchill, then reverse to NAIT.

From NAIT it works better - as the train can cross-over to the NB track at Churchill, then run up to the OMC.

Thoughts on why Edmonton is installing this expensive junction when there is already a cross-over just south of Churchill?

[highlander]

The south crossover may need to be out of service and relocated, since it extends north into the platform area. There may also be a desire to extend the Churchill platform south, to allow construction of a new direct-to-surface elevator to connect to the millwoods line

[halocore]

I'm really impressed how fast the work is going on this. Seems to be blazing ahead compared to the first year of construction on the south lrt.

[Medwards]

In reality, this is the 3rd year of construction of NAIT LRT.

[lightrail]

Originally Posted by highlander

The south crossover may need to be out of service and relocated, since it extends north into the platform area. There may also be a desire to extend the Churchill platform south, to allow construction of a new direct-to-surface elevator to connect to the millwoods line

I hadn't thought of that - but that does make sense.

[Edmcowboy11]

I do hope that the city is being smart about construction at Churchill and making accomodations for expansion. I think it would be a wise thing if they were to move forward with a new elevator which would be used to connect to the future low floor line but also just having a better access would be great. I've brought it up before that if a person is using a stroller or wheelchair you are forced to go on an adventure looking for elevators to get from street level to platform level.

[Mla]

Originally Posted by Edmcowboy11

I do hope that the city is being smart about construction at Churchill and making accomodations for expansion. I think it would be a wise thing if they were to move forward with a new elevator which would be used to connect to the future low floor line but also just having a better access would be great. I've brought it up before that if a person is using a stroller or wheelchair you are forced to go on an adventure looking for elevators to get from street level to platform level.

A little off topic but wouldn't an elevator going straight from surface to platform make it easier for fare cheaters? How easy would it be to play the victim when the elevator goes straight past the ticket machines on concourse. ETS would have to clearly mark such an elevator and maybe install ticket machines on the surface level so people would have to walk past them before going straight to the platform.

Just a thought

[The_Cat]

Make the elevator exclusively for wheelchairs and strollers only.

[Mla]

Originally Posted by The_Cat

Make the elevator exclusively for wheelchairs and strollers only.

That would require city hall to amend the transit bylaw then so that could be enforced and what about the people in wheelchairs who need to buy a ticket?