And The Work Goes On

9/16/10
btw. 91st and 92nd streets

I ventured out last Thursday evening, after enjoying a nice meal at Nina's Argentinian Pizzeria, to shoot a few images for the blog - knowing that the combination of little drizzle and a very bright floodlight would create a nice photographic effect.



9/16/10
91st Street - NE corner - looking N

Clearly there is no room on this sidewalk at the moment for outdoor seating. (I like the wonderfully long shadows in this shot.)



9/16/10
btw. 91st & 92nd streets - looking E

A view from across the street.



9/16/10
btw. 91st & 92nd streets - looking E

Another view - this time a few steps further north on the avenue. (In this shot I like how the red neon sign reflects off the rain water on the street.)



9/16/10
95th Street - looking N

Up near 95th Street I found a location where construction materials had been neatly laid out for another day. (I like the symmetry in this image, of the wood planks and the line of street lights.)



9/16/10
95th Street - SW corner - looking E

A lone cab speeds by, as the machines sit silent - as they rest, waiting for a new work day.


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Now jump forward to Saturday afternoon --



9/18/10
97th Street - NW corner - looking N

Just north of 97th Street I came across a trench that is being built by the contractors E. E. Cruz / Tully Construction JV.

I'd guess that the trench in this image is about 100 feet long, 20 feet deep and about 10 feet wide.



9/18/10
btw. 96th & 97th streets - looking W
(click on this stitched image for a larger view)

The image above shows the lot on the SW corner of Second Avenue and 97th Street - which is the future site of Ancillary Building No. 2 for the 96th Street station. (Sorry about the bluish tint. One of the setting on the camera was clearly not correct when I captured this image.)

The contractors here are continuing their efforts to shore up the foundations of the buildings near this location.



9/18/10
btw. 96th & 97th streets - west side of the avenue



9/18/10
96th Street - NW corner - looking NW

The scene in front of 1867, 1869, 1871, and 1873 Second Avenue.



9/18/10

This is an image of a large gate valve that I found mounted on the side of a storage tank.



9/18/10
btw. 95th & 96th streets - looking N

A truck load of old cast iron pipe waiting to be hauled away.



9/18/10
btw. 86th & 87th streets - looking W

These are sections of new 30 inch steel pipe that I believe will soon be installed for gas service.



9/18/10

This section of pipe has been cut recently.



9/18/10

And this is a new 30 inch cap - waiting to be put in place.



9/19/10
btw. 91st & 92nd streets

This image shows an air compressor hose connection that has been protected with a so-called "whipcheck" safety cable. The safety cable would prevent this hose from "whipping around" if the hose coupling were to blow out.


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9/18/10
93rd Street - NW corner - looking SE

In this image, if you look carefully, you can see that the contractors have now built a wooden shell that surrounds the conveyor belt. One could imagine that this was done to prevent any rocks from being ejected too far from the belt.



9/18/10

A close-up view of the wooden shell over the conveyor belt.


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9/18/10
btw. 68th & 69th streets - west side of street

This is a newly constructed station for the MTA's Select Bus Service which is scheduled to be launched, on First and Second avenues, on October 10, 2010.

The basic idea is that you pay the fare before you board the bus using one of the payment machines shown in this image. The machine gives you a receipt and then you can board the bus using any of the available doors.

The Select Bus service will surely provide a speedier travel experience on the M15 -- while we wait for the eventual inauguration of Q Line service under Second Avenue ... in a few years.


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A footnote:

I had also hoped to report the current location of the TBM under Second Avenue but at the moment this information does not appear to be readily available (to me).

As soon as the latest TBM position data is released I will of course update the blog.


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Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"Second Ave. Subway Construction Affects Businesses" (1:53)
By Adrian Carrasquillo
Fox 5 News - 9/4/10

"Second Avenue Subway Debate" (7:08)
Fox 5 News - 9/7/10

"Plumbing an Obstacle to 2nd Ave. Subway"
By Michael M. Grynbaum
The New York Times - 9/9/10

Maloney Hails $275 Million Federal Grant for 2nd Ave. Subway
Press Release
Office of Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney - 9/20/10

2Q2010 Report to the FTA

-- Two (2) updates can be found below

The MTA this week released (on their web site) a copy of the most recent MTA Capital Construction report to the Federal Transit Administration for the Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway Project.

The report covers the period April - June 2010.


2Q2010 Report to the FTA - Second Avenue Subway, Phase 1


Page 16, reproduced below, includes an updated Gantt chart (dated 7/1/10) that details the "schedule and proposed schedule" for the project.


(Left-click on the image for a view that is readable.)


In case anyone is wondering - MTA Capital Construction is still forecasting a revenue service date of Friday, December 30th, 2016.


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Meanwhile work in the ground freeze zone, just south of the launch box, is continuing. (This is the section of ground that must be frozen before the TBM can mine Tunnel Number 2 early next year.)



8/28/10
91st Street - SE corner, looking W

This is a portable drilling rig that is owned by the company Moretrench. The rig here is being used to drill the shafts for the so-called freeze pipes.



8/28/10
91st Street - looking S



8/28/10

A close-up shot of one drill bits used by this rig.



8/28/10
91st Street, SE corner - looking E

This portable storage tank was placed on 91st Street within the past few weeks. Most likely it will be used to store the fluid that will be pumped through the network of freeze pipes that is now being installed under Second Avenue.


An update - 9/13/10

Recently I've learned that the portable storage tanks [there are 3 of them on 91st Street now] are actually settling tanks for the silty ground water that is currently being pumped out of the work zone by the contractor Moretrench.

The dirty water sits in the holding tanks until the sediment settles. Then the [now clear] water is discharged into the sewer and the silt is trucked away for disposal.

Once all the pipes have been installed the storage tanks will be removed and replaced by a giant refrigeration system. The refrigeration system will pump a salt brine solution through the installed pipes so that the ground can be frozen to approximately minus 20 degrees (F).

Once the ground is frozen solid the TBM will tunnel right through the area.



8/28/10
just south of SE corner of 95th Street - looking W

This odd looking contraption was set up in front of the Normandie Wines shop about ten days ago by the company J. P. Hogan Coring & Sawing.

It would appear to be a wire saw that will be used to cut out a large section of concrete from the east wall of the launch box. The wire that runs around the pulleys is most likely fitted with industrial diamonds, to cut through the concrete.



8/28/10
Another view of the machine.



8/28/10

This is a view of the section of concrete that is being cut out. Two of the cuts are shown, on the right and the left.


An Update - 9/20/10


9/18/10

In this image you can now clearly see the section of concrete that has been removed from the east wall of the launch box.



8/28/10
btw. 94th and 95th streets

This exciting picture shows of one of the temporary ventilation shafts for the launch box.

What's interesting is that it appears that the contractors are now fitting the shaft with a material (i.e. the white sheets) that will dampen sound. I understand that in the past some neighborhood residents have complained about the high pitched whine that these fans can produce.


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8/28/10
93rd Street - looking N

On a lighter note, shown here is the cutout that has been recently mounted on the side of the Sandhog's changing building near 93rd Street.

It is none other than the professional wrestler Hulk Hogan.


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And finally -- as of Tuesday, August 31st, the TBM has now mined a total 1,928 feet of Tunnel No. 1 (the west tunnel).

This would put the TBM at a point between 84th & 85th streets, near the location of the restaurant Vespa.


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Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"Second Avenue merchants: subway construction cutting business by up to 40%"
By Jane C. Timm
The Real Deal - 8/24/10

"Drill Down: Going Deep With NYC’s Second Avenue Subway Project"
By Daniel Dumas
Wired.com - 8/31/10

"Above Ground, a 2nd Ave. Subway Plan Attracts Critics"
By Terry Pristin
The New York Times - 8/31/10


Under Businesses that have Closed:


8/28/10
1767 Second Avenue (btw. 91st and 92nd Street)
Knickerbocker Plaza Cleaners
Closed in early August 2010The Marshal's Notice on the door says that landlord took procession of the premises on 8/2/10, and the sign in the window says "Knickerbocker Cleaners has been closed indefinitely. You can pick up your garments from: The Ritz Cleaners, 344 East 72nd Street. (212) 737-0820."



8/28/10
1742 Second Avenue (btw. 90th and 91st)
Re-opened as Giorgio's Wine Bar Ristorantein early August 2010



8/28/10
1825 Second Avenue (btw. 94th and 95th)
Re-opened as K9 Locksmith
in early August 2010


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TBM Now Mining Faster Than Planned

This just in --

The TBM under Second Avenue mined a total of 92.74 feet (in single day) yesterday, which I believe is the maximum achieved production on this project to date.

This single-day production level is greater than the 50 feet/day estimate that MTA Capital Construction is using for planning purposes, and I understand that it's even further than the 65 feet/day that the contractors (S3 Tunnel Constructors) said would be possible when they bid the job.

The machine has now mined a total of 1,760 feet of TBM Run No. 1 (i.e. the west tunnel) as of yesterday - which by my calculations would put it at about 85th Street.

Next stop (for this TBM), is 65th Street.

A Footnote:
One naturally might wonder how it is that they know the machine moved exactly 92.74 feet on Wednesday.

The answer... They measure the distance by shooting an invisible infrared laser, from something called a Total Station, at a pair of retroreflector prisms that are mounted on the machine's head. The Total Station calculates the distance using an optical technique known as phase measurement. The data from the Total Station is then fed to a computer inside the cab of the TBM, so the operator knows exactly where he is at all times.

I'm told that this method of measuring distance is accurate to about 1/1000 of a foot (which is 0.012 inches).

Down in the Tunnel

And at long last, we now have a few images of the work taking place inside TBM Tunnel No. 1 (the west tunnel) under Second Avenue.

The quoted text under each image is the caption that was provided to me by the MTA.



Courtesy of the MTA
8/2010
Inside TBM Tunnel No. 1
"General view along the TBM catwalk of the bridge conveyor and spoils [muck] being removed from the heading."



Courtesy of the MTA
8/2010
Inside TBM Tunnel No. 1 - looking south
"General view of extended vent line and locomotive pulling muck cars from the starter tunnel."



Courtesy of the MTA
8/2010
Inside TBM Tunnel No. 1 - looking north
"General View of full muck cars being hauled out of the tunnel."



Courtesy of the MTA
8/2010
Inside TBM Tunnel No. 1 - looking south
"A view of the steel rib initial support installation."


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And here are a few images of the work taking place at street level on Second Avenue.



8/21/10
69th Street - looking N

The access shaft shown in this image is now complete and the the contractor, S3 Tunnel Constructors, has now removed all of their equipment from the work area. Its nice to see how neat the contractor has left this work site.

This shaft, and its twin up near 72nd Street, is now ready for a new contractor to start mining the cavern for the new 72nd Street station in the not to distant future.



8/21/10
btw. 83rd & 84th streets - looking N

This looks like a new gas main that is undergoing a pressure test. This is done by pressurizing the new section of pipe with a non-flammable a gas and then checking to see that the pressure in the pipe remains constant for a fixed period of time.

Note the orange tanks in the image are marked with HAZMAT Class 2 "non-flammable gas" placard. One could assume that these tanks contain the gas that is being used for the pressure test.



8/21/10
91st Street - looking S

Workers here are preparing the area between 90th and 92nd Street, on the east side of Second Avenue, that will be subject a "ground freezing" process.

The ground in this area must be frozen before the TBM starts mining tunnel No. 2 (the east tunnel) because this area contained fractured rock and soft ground - materials that cannot be mined by the main beam TBM that is being used on this job.

Before the ground can be frozen the surface must first be prepared and a network of freeze pipes must be installed. Before the TBM starts its run for the east tunnel the ground in this area will be frozen solid.

After the TBM passes through this area an interim liner will be installed through the frozen zone to seal the ground and the groundwater from entering the tunnel as the ground thaws out. This interim liner will be incorporated in the final cast-in-place liner after this tunnel has been excavated.



8/21/10
91st Street - looking N

Another view of the surface preparation work in the zone where the ground freeze will take place.



8/21/10
In front of 1867 Second Avenue (btw. 96th & 97th streets) - looking S

At this location the contractor is using a technique known as compaction grouting to improve the soil conditions under the buildings at 1867, 1869, and 1871 Second Avenue.

The image above shows one of the drills that is being used to install the grout pipe. The temporary pedestrian access way to the front door of 1867 Second Avenue can be seen on the right.



8/21/10
In front of 1871 Second Avenue - looking S

A close-up view of the 2nd drill unit, which is located in front of the McDonald's restaurant.


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The MTA recently announced (on their web site) that the following two contracts are to be advertised in the near future:

Contract C-26008
Mine 86th Street Station Cavern
Second Avenue Subway
This project is to mine the 86th Street Station cavern as well as shafts and adits for the entrances, elevator, electrical, ancillaries, cross passages, underpinning of existing structures and cut and cover excavation.

Contract C-26009
Construct Track, Signal, Power & Communications Systems
Second Avenue Subway
This project is to construct track, signal, traction power, and communication systems for the Second Avenue Subway which includes the 96th, 86th, 72nd and Lexington/63rd Street Stations.


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Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"Bring on the MTA Machines"
By Kelli Gail
Our Town - 8/18/10

Committee Report (7 pages)
Hearing Testimony (39 pages)
Hearing Transcript (141 pages)
"The 2nd Avenue Subway and the East Side –
Is there light at the end of the tunnel"
Oversight Meeting
Joint Committees on Small Business and Transportation
New York City Council - June 14, 2010


Under Businesses that have Closed:


8/21/10
1830 Second Avenue (btw. 94th and 95th)
Chinese Mirch - a take away restaurant
Closed at this location in August 2010



8/21/10
1817 Second Avenue (btw. 94th and 95th)
Re-opened as Konomi Sushi
in early August 2010


Under Notices & Posters:


8/21/10