Millennium Line - Evergreen Extension | Completed

[red-paladin]

Thanks for the pics!

[queetz@home]

Thanks so much Elysia17! The photos are quite clear and beautiful too! Nicely done and I hope you post some more as progress continues!

[Mac Write]

I have no job so I can be the official photographer. Just one limitation can't walk far so 100m from bus stops or places I can sit. Just give me an exact location am I will go out and take the photos.

[Millennium2002]

Is/was there not a normal SkyTrain column beside the transition structure? I remember seeing the forms for it many weeks ago...

[Jebby]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

I have no job so I can be the official photographer. Just one limitation can't walk far so 100m from bus stops or places I can sit. Just give me an exact location am I will go out and take the photos.

Thanks for the offer! I'd wait a few weeks until we can see a bit more progress before making the trip all the way out there, though.

[Elysia17]

Originally Posted by allan_kuan

Is/was there not a normal SkyTrain column beside the transition structure? I remember seeing the forms for it many weeks ago...

There is one full column immediately after it cross Como Lake. There is one half transition column that they are working on at this time. Then the transition structure itself to bring the skytrain to at-grade prior to entering the South Portal Entrance.

Blue form where the crane is hoisting is the transition column.
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Re-bar structure of full column north side after crossing over Como Lake:

[hollywoodnorth]

many thanks for the great pics!

[red-paladin]

Work is progressing under and around the Barnet for the North Portal.



From The North Portal Construction view at 9:30 AM today. http://wcs.pbaeng.com/projects/R1_Transit

[queetz@home]

Thanks for the pic, red paladin! It looks like in the webcam site, you need to choose the view, "North Portal Construction" to see that...

[red-paladin]

Exactly! Sounded like there was some confusion about it earlier.

[Metro-One]

It is so strange to actually see structures rising now, just like that it is happening!

[queetz@home]

We already know this has already happened (though technically, the first column was at the Burquitlam station itself, is it not?) but they finally broadcasted it in the mainstream news outlets....

http://globalnews.ca/news/776002/first-column-of-the-evergreen-line-installed/

The first column of the Evergreen Line has been installed, and construction is on schedule for completion in 2016.

The column has been erected at the corner of Como Lake Avenue and Clarke Road in Coquitlam.

And of course, the inevitable commentary by Gordon Price...

http://www.news1130.com/2013/08/12/evergreen-line-inching-closer-to-reality/

COQUITLAM (NEWS1130) – It’s the first tangible sign that the Evergreen Line is coming — the first column is up near Como Lake and Clarke in Coquitlam.

Once that line is complete, things could get a lot busier for transit users.

SFU City Planner Gordon Price says it will be noticeable at certain hubs like Commercial/Broadway. More people will land there by train but they’ll likely be fighting for the same number of buses.

“I do think they’ve maxed out on the ability for Broadway to handle many more buses. There are ways to do it, you really have to change the condition on the street, it’s just not a question of funneling more buses because what will happen is they’ll just start backing up,” explains Price.

[Mac Write]

Of course if they push for people going to UBC to take the 84 instead, Broadway-commercial might be able to handle the traffic.

[Phalonx]

Originally Posted by Mac Write

Of course if they push for people going to UBC to take the 84 instead, Broadway-commercial might be able to handle the traffic.

I'm not sure how the 84 is these days but back when I last took it about a year ago, it was nearly at crush capacity during peak hours. The worst parts are between VCC and Emily Carr, and between Vine and UBC where pass-ups are a daily occurance. IMO, more people travelling on 4th isn't an option anymore unless they add significantly more capacity (like reduce headways to 3-4 minutes, etc.).

On an Evergreen related topic, scaffolding has gone up around the existing columns at Lougheed station, hopefully the plant life growing in the existing guideway won't cause them any problems.

[DKaz]

Can't people take the 4 or 44 west of Burrard? The 84 is definitely the fastest way to go between the Millennium Line and UBC.

On another note, RAM Engineering posted this on their Facebook page.

http://www.joconl.com/article/id56494/--calgary-lrt-line-cost-double-original-estimates

The actual cost of Calgary's 8.2km long West LRT Line was a hair under the final $1.336 billion budget, but almoust double the original $700 million budget approved in 2007. The Evergreen Line has a budget of $1.4 billion for the 11km line. How does the West LRT Line cost almost as much for 25% less track, on less challenging terrain, and using rail technology with higher operating costs attached? Significantly higher labour costs there? I paid $105 for an oil change in Edmonton last November which normally costs $73 here.

We got a bargain with our Canada Line and we're going to get one with the Evergreen Line.

[Millennium2002]

It's been mentioned before that some of the costs associated with the West LRT Line were actually remedial actions that had little to do with the physical line itself, like the building of new schools and roads.

[DKaz]

I thought our costs included utilities and road construction?

Weird they had to relocate a school.

[queetz@home]

Originally Posted by DKaz

Can't people take the 4 or 44 west of Burrard? The 84 is definitely the fastest way to go between the Millennium Line and UBC.

On another note, RAM Engineering posted this on their Facebook page.

http://www.joconl.com/article/id56494/--calgary-lrt-line-cost-double-original-estimates

The actual cost of Calgary's 8.2km long West LRT Line was a hair under the final $1.336 billion budget, but almoust double the original $700 million budget approved in 2007. The Evergreen Line has a budget of $1.4 billion for the 11km line. How does the West LRT Line cost almost as much for 25% less track, on less challenging terrain, and using rail technology with higher operating costs attached? Significantly higher labour costs there? I paid $105 for an oil change in Edmonton last November which normally costs $73 here.

We got a bargain with our Canada Line and we're going to get one with the Evergreen Line.

The issue with the costs on the Calgary LRT has been discussed extensively throughout the years in the appropriate thread in the Calgary section. allan_kuan is correct, and I have seen the obstacles the Calgary LRT had to face for myself (was even surprised at how much "adjustments" are needed with already existing buildings on its route). Its no surprise why it cost so much compared to Evergreen Line, but also note that there is also very specific, and in some cases, unique reasons why, on a per km basis, the Evergreen Line and Canada Line cost the way they are compared to other systems.

There is really no need to bring it up in this specific thread, and its quite out of topic, which will deviate the flow and discussions.

[Chadillaccc]

Also, most of the West LRT is either elevated, underground, or in a very expensive and almost pointless trench... elevated seems to be cheaper. The portion at grade is very small. Over half is UG/Trench and forced the reconstruction of several important intersections. I'm not sure what "easier terrain" that guy is talking about though... the only obstacle Evergreen has is Burnaby Mountain.


Great news to see the first column complete!!!

[xd_1771]

The actual cost of Calgary's 8.2km long West LRT Line was a hair under the final $1.336 billion budget, but almoust double the original $700 million budget approved in 2007. The Evergreen Line has a budget of $1.4 billion for the 11km line. How does the West LRT Line cost almost as much for 25% less track, on less challenging terrain, and using rail technology with higher operating costs attached? Significantly higher labour costs there? I paid $105 for an oil change in Edmonton last November which normally costs $73 here.

We got a bargain with our Canada Line and we're going to get one with the Evergreen Line.

Well, if you're worried then that the Evergreen Line could go over budget, it's not going to do that - at least, not for anyone who paid into the capital. If you read the RFP, the funding arrangement is made so that half or so of the funding is deferred to the contractor and paid at the end, with the contractor becoming responsible for anything extra.