Broadway Subway - Millennium Line Extension to Arbutus | U/C

[Migrant_Coconut]

Doesn’t help that Italians and punctuality are mortal enemies…

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by giallo

I understand that this all takes time, but again, why wasn't this factored into its development in the first place?

I was responding to the idea that there isn't much left to complete the project, so it shouldn't take three years to finish everything post-tunnel boring. All of that work was factored into the project in the first place.

As mentioned by madog a few pages back, about six of the 22 months can be explained by a delayed start to tunneling and the concrete strike. Changing is likely correct that there was very little timeline contingency built in; or perhaps there were unforeseen complications with soil types, utility relocations, or any number of variables that slowed the project.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Doesn’t help that Italians and punctuality are mortal enemies…

Without doing a full statistical analysis it sure feels like every big infrastructure project goes over-schedule and over-budget.

Maybe next time we should call in the Turks to build our subway project. Istanbul is building transit at a break-neck pace and has to deal with even more complex seismic conditions than Vancouver.

[madog222]

There is still all the systems to be installed and station fit out once the structure is complete. Supply of those could still have major impacts from the global supply chain issues, just look at the state of Capstan Station.

[Hooknose]

The Broadway line was just delayed a year and, simultaneously, so was the Pattullo Bridge.

Engineering was blamed in both cases but my suspicion is that governments are delaying construction to save cash.

With the tunnels finished and the stations at least two thirds built, how can it take another three years to finish.

What are they using ... hand tools only??

Sorry to be the worry weasel here but this gives me the willies.

[FarmerHaight]

Originally Posted by Hooknose

With the tunnels finished and the stations at least two thirds built

What are you on about?

There are no rails laid in the tunnels, so the tunnels are not finished, and none of the stations are even close to being two-thirds complete.

[Lexus]

2024, May 27

Main Street

Untitled by Lexus LX, on Flickr

[Hooknose]

Originally Posted by FarmerHaight

What are you on about?

There are no rails laid in the tunnels, so the tunnels are not finished, and none of the stations are even close to being two-thirds complete.

Maybe it is just me ... but

If they can build a 40 story building at Granville and Broadway in a year (one floor a week) why do they need three more years to add two floors to a station?

And, guess what, 40 story buildings have all sort of internal fixtures that have to be added after the raw structure is up. they do that as the building is being built.

But the same workers cannot seem to do that here.

Just my "spidey sense" acting up.

[Jimbo604]

Deeply disappointing news, but what can you do, take the competing subway project? That was sarcasm, of course, we are stuck with this one.

They're working on it, hopefully moving more towards completion each working day. Let's hope they can indeed speed up progress now that the conveyer system and tunnel bores are done/removed which opens up access.

Journal of Commerce by ConstructConnect has a May 27th article - B.C. project news: Pattullo Bridge, new Broadway subway face significant delays DCN-JOC News Services May 27, 2024.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Hooknose

The Broadway line was just delayed a year and, simultaneously, so was the Pattullo Bridge.

Engineering was blamed in both cases but my suspicion is that governments are delaying construction to save cash.

With the tunnels finished and the stations at least two thirds built, how can it take another three years to finish.

What are they using ... hand tools only??

Sorry to be the worry weasel here but this gives me the willies.

Originally Posted by Hooknose

Maybe it is just me ... but

If they can build a 40 story building at Granville and Broadway in a year (one floor a week) why do they need three more years to add two floors to a station?

And, guess what, 40 story buildings have all sort of internal fixtures that have to be added after the raw structure is up. they do that as the building is being built.

But the same workers cannot seem to do that here.

Just my "spidey sense" acting up.

You might be onto something here... .

But questioning the status quo ain't exactly cute in these parts.

[Changing City]

This is purely speculation on my part, but I wonder if the province has learned from other transit projects across the country, and residential developments here. So many developments have an initial estimate for completion that turns out to be wildly optimistic, and in reality the project takes much longer.

This is now not expected to be open until 2027, significantly past the previous completion date, but presumably it's a more realistic date based on all the work that still has to be done.

Other projects have sometimes added a few months to their completion date, and then added another few months, and still missed those targets, which can be even more frustrating than if a more likely date had been stated at the outset.

[giallo]

Originally Posted by Jimbo604

Deeply disappointing news, but what can you do, take the competing subway project? That was sarcasm, of course, we are stuck with this one.

So we move on.. they're working on it, hopefully moving more towards completion each working day. Let's hope they can indeed speed up progress now that the conveyer system and tunnel bores are done/removed which opens up access.

Journal of Commerce by ConstructConnect has a May 27th article - B.C. project news: Pattullo Bridge, new Broadway subway face significant delays DCN-JOC News Services May 27, 2024.

It makes me wonder when we'll see this extension reach UBC. Probably 2035 if I'm being very optimistic. 2040 if the current study/approval/construction trends continue.

I hate to compare us to Asia (due to lots of other factors at play), but watching how quickly East Asian cities build their subway systems, bridges and roads has spoiled me. I forgot how long it takes North Americans to build anything transit-related.

[Jimbo604]

Originally Posted by giallo

It makes me wonder when we'll see this extension reach UBC. Probably 2035 if I'm being very optimistic. 2040 if the current study/approval/construction trends continue.

I hate to compare us to Asia (due to lots of other factors at play), but watching how quickly East Asian cities build their subway systems, bridges and roads has spoiled me. I forgot how long it takes North Americans to build anything transit-related.

At least we ain't New York Subway construction slow/expensive which, if memory serves, has the highest costs in the world for subway construction.

Minister of Transportation doesn't seem too fussed... So we move on...
"B.C. Minister Of Transportation Rob Fleming stated in a news release Friday that the projects are making “tremendous” progress despite the challenges both have faced. “These projects will move people and goods more quickly and safely around the Lower Mainland,” Fleming stated." Surrey Now-Leader

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by Hooknose

Maybe it is just me ... but

If they can build a 40 story building at Granville and Broadway in a year (one floor a week) why do they need three more years to add two floors to a station?

And, guess what, 40 story buildings have all sort of internal fixtures that have to be added after the raw structure is up. they do that as the building is being built.

But the same workers cannot seem to do that here.

Just my "spidey sense" acting up.

Seems more likely most if it will be for testing all the systems/integration/mechanical work than it is to pour concrete or lay track.

At least it's not 9 years late and $3.5 billion dollars overbudget like the North Shore wastewater treatment plant.

[madog222]

Originally Posted by Hooknose

Maybe it is just me ... but

If they can build a 40 story building at Granville and Broadway in a year (one floor a week) why do they need three more years to add two floors to a station?

And, guess what, 40 story buildings have all sort of internal fixtures that have to be added after the raw structure is up. they do that as the building is being built.

But the same workers cannot seem to do that here.

Just my "spidey sense" acting up.

Because building a highrise concrete building is a solved issue, practically all possible issues have been encountered and dealt with previously. Look at how many towers are built every year and how they are built. They're practically one step away from being a production line.

This project on the other hand is one-off, not at all comparable to residential/commercial tower construction.

As for suggesting this is an intentional delay caused by politicians or that that would even be possible, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Pure speculation or unsupported rumors aren't appreciated around here.

[Hooknose]

Originally Posted by scryer

You might be onto something here... .

But questioning the status quo ain't exactly cute in these parts.

By "questioning the status quo" do you mean the BC and Vancouver scene or the scene on this forum.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by Hooknose

Engineering was blamed in both cases but my suspicion is that governments are delaying construction to save cash.

The money is already budgeted. In order to force contractors into a fixed price they are going to give up a lot on schedule. No surprises here, just disappointment.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

At least it's not 9 years late and $3.5 billion dollars overbudget like the North Shore wastewater treatment plant.

Yeah compared to what's happening there, TMX, Site C, these delays are nothing.

[officedweller]

The underground parts of buildings are always the slowest to be built.

[BaddieB]

Originally Posted by madog222

Because building a highrise concrete building is a solved issue, practically all possible issues have been encountered and dealt with previously. Look at how many towers are built every year and how they are built. They're practically one step away from being a production line.

This project on the other hand is one-off, not at all comparable to residential/commercial tower construction.

We need an in-house, government-run engineering, design, and construction corporation to take on infrastructure projects like these, that can continuously work on projects around the country.