City of Cincinnati
Phase one construction update for week ending September 20
If you’ve been in Washington Park by Elm Street, you’ve seen that we started removing pavers this week.
The granite pavers have to be taken out so we can prepare the track bed for the streetcar. But don’t worry – they’ll be back! Meser/Prus/Delta will clean the pavers and put them back in Elm Street once track work is finished.
Open for business…
You can still get to Washington Park Garage from Elm Street at this time. Construction teams are also providing pedestrian crossings between Music Hall and Washington Park during this portion of construction.
What is trackwork, anyway?
Steel rails are just one part of the streetcar track. Building the track is a process. When we’re doing embedded trackwork, you’ll see us:
- digging a trench
- laying a gravel base
- creating a steel rebar framework
- laying ties & rails
- pouring the concrete track slab
Obviously, it’s a bit more complicated than that. But as a general overview, that’s what you’ll see.
These photos from Messer/Prus/Delta (taken in Atlanta) illustrate the process.
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- Digging the trench for the track
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- Compacting the gravel base
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- Laying rails on ties, with the steel framework visible underneath
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- Pouring and smoothing the concrete track slab
Progress this week:
- Demolition for the Maintenance & Operations Facility continued at 1910 Elm St. (east building). Soil is being stockpiled for the basement backfilling.
- Exploratory digging for utilities continued on Race Street, between 14th and Liberty streets; and started on Central Parkway between Race and Walnut streets.
- Conduit installation for traffic signals continued on Race between 14th and Green streets.
- Water main installation continued on Central Parkway between Vine and Walnut streets.
- New sewer installation continued on Elm Street by Washington Park; and started one block north, between 14th and 15th streets.
- Paver removal began along Elm Street, next to Washington Park.
- Duke Energy conducted underground gas work on Elm Street between 12th and Wade streets; and on Elm near Green Street.
- Duke Energy also conducted underground electrical work on Main Street between Fifth and Sixth streets; and on Walnut Street near Court Street.
- Notification to businesses and residents concluded on Elm Street across from Washington Park and began on Elm Street between 14th and 15th streets.
Planned for next week:
- Water main installation will continue on Walnut Street between Ninth Street and Central Parkway. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Conduit installation for traffic signals will continue on Race Street between 13th and 15th streets. Work will start on Elm Street near Liberty Street; and on Race Street between Findlay and Henry streets. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Exploratory digging will resume on Elm Street near Liberty Street. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- New sewer installation will continue on Elm Street between 14th and 15th street. 14th Street will be closed from Central Parkway to Race Street.
- Demolition for the Maintenance & Operations Facility will continue at 1910 Elm St. (east building). Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Paver removal will continue along Elm Street, next to Washington Park. Existing pavement and rail removal also will start along this stretch of Elm Street. Traffic will be limited to one lane. The entrance to Washington Park Garage will be maintained.
- Duke Energy will conduct underground gas work on Race Street near Findlay Street; and on Race Street between Liberty and Elder streets.
- Duke Energy will also conduct underground electrical work on Main Street between Fifth and Sixth streets; and on Walnut Street near Court Street.
- Notification to businesses and residents will continue on Elm Street between 14th and 15th streets.
Phase one construction update for week ending September 13
Meet Mike King, Messer/Prus/Delta’s Community Relations Leader for the Cincinnati Streetcar‘s construction phase.
Throughout construction, Mike will be doing outreach to businesses and residents along the Streetcar route.
You might see him putting up door hangers and talking to folks through the CBD and Over-the-Rhine. Don’t be surprised if you get a phone call from Mike or see him out on the street.
Welcome aboard, Mike!
Progress this week:
- Business/resident notification started on Elm Street adjacent to Washington Park.
- Backfilling the basement at 1911 Race St. (part of Maintenance & Operations Facility site) was completed, and soil began to be stockpiled for the larger building basement backfilling.
- Demolition of the east building at 1910 Elm St. (also part of Maintenance & Operations Facility site) continued.
- Exploratory digging for utilities continued on Race Street, between Findlay and Liberty streets.
- New sanitary and storm installation commenced on Elm Street, by Washington Park.
- Water main installation continued near Central Parkway and Walnut Street.
- Conduit installation for traffic signals continued near 12th and Elm streets; at Findlay and Elm streets; and on Race Street between Findlay and Liberty streets. Work also began on Elm Street near Liberty Street.
- Duke performed underground gas work along Elm Street between 12th and Wade streets; and on Race Street near Findlay Street.
- Duke also did underground electrical work on Main Street near Ninth Street; on Race Street near Elder Street; and on Race next to SCPA.
Planned for next week:
- Demolition of the east building at 1910 Elm St. (part of Maintenance & Operations Facility site) will continue. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Exploratory digging will take place on Race Street between Liberty and 14th streets; and on Central Parkway between Race and Walnut streets. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Conduit installation for traffic signals will continue on Race Street just north of Liberty Street. Work still start on Race Street between 14th and Liberty streets. Traffic will be maintained.
- New sanitary and storm installation will continue on Elm Street next to Washington Park. Work will also start just one block north, on Elm Street between 14th and 15th streets. Access to & through 14th Street will be significantly reduced and closed from Central Parkway to Race Street periodically.
- Cobblestone removal will start on Elm Street next to Washington Park, following the completion of gas work. Traffic will be limited to 1 lane. The entrance to the garage will be maintained.
- Water main installation will continue near Central Parkway and Walnut Street.
- Duke will perform underground gas work on Elm Street between 12th and Wade streets.
- Duke will also conduct underground electrical work on Walnut Street near Court Street.
- Business/resident notification will conclude on Elm Street by Washington Park. Notification will start the next block north, between 14th and 15th streets.
Work for underground conduit crossings near Race and Liberty streets continued this week.
There’s been a lot of progress on demolition of the second building at the MOF site.
Duke’s contractor tying Elm Street house’s gas service to new the gas main.
Phase one construction update for the week of September 6
Demolition continues at the Maintenance & Operations Facility site (at Henry and Race streets). The footprint of the first building (1911 Race St.) is being filled and leveled.
Progress this week:
- Abatement at the MOF site was completed.
- Demolition of 1911 Race St. was completed, and basement backfilling began.
- Demolition of 1910 Elm St. (east building) began.
- Exploratory digging for utilities continued along Elm and Race streets at Findlay Street, and started along Elm near Elder and Liberty streets.
- Water main installation started along Central Parkway near Walnut Street.
- Conduit installation for traffic signals continued near the southwest corner of Washington Park. Work also started along Elm and Race streets near Findlay Street.
- Duke conducted underground gas work along Elm Street (just north of Music Hall) and on Race Street near Findlay Street.
- Duke also conducted underground electrical work on Main near Ninth Street, Central Parkway near Walnut Street, Race Street near Elder Street and Race Street by the School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Work includes underground conduit for traffic control signals near Findlay Market.
Demolition has begun on the second building (1910 Elm St., east building).
This machine is at work for safe, thorough utility investigation. We want to know for sure where they are.
Planned for next week:
- Water main installation will continue near Central Parkway and Walnut Street. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Conduit installation for traffic signals will continue near the southwest corner of Washington Park, on Elm Street near Findlay Street, and on Race Street between Liberty and Findlay streets. Work also will begin on Elm near Liberty. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Exploratory digging will continue on Race Street between Liberty and Findlay streets. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- New sanitary and storm installation will begin on Elm Street between 12th and 15th streets. Note: 14th Street will be closed between Central Parkway and Race Street.
- Demolition of 1910 Elm St. (east building) & backfilling of 1911 Race St. will continue at the MOF site.
- Duke will conduct underground gas work on Race Street near Findlay Street.
- Duke also will conduct underground electrical work on Main Street near Ninth Street, on Race Street near Elder Street and on Race Street near SCPA.
- Business/resident notification will start along Elm Street, west of Washington Park.
Phase one construction update for week of August 29
The biggest progress this past week was the demolition kickoff for the Streetcar’s Maintenance & Operations Facility (MOF).
Mayor Mallory led the countdown to the most visible sign of progress on the Cincinnati Streetcar’s construction phase.
With one swipe, demolition was underway at Henry and Race streets…
…and just a few days later, the first of the two buildings to be demolished was nearly gone.
This week’s progress:
- Began demolition of two buildings at the MOF site
- Exploratory digging for utilities on Elm Street near Findlay Market
- Underground excavation for traffic signals near the intersection of 12th and Elm streets
- Underground gas work on Elm (from 15th to Liberty streets)
- Underground electrical work on Walnut (from 5th to 7th) and on Walnut (from 3rd to 4th streets)
Planned for next week:
- Continued demolition at the MOF site
- Water main installation on Central Parkway between Vine and Walnut streets. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
- Traffic signal conduit installation near the corner of 12th & Elm Streets, on Elm Street near Findlay Street, and on Race between Elder & Henry streets. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times
- New sanitary and storm installation on Elm (between 12th and 15th). Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times
- Underground gas work on Elm between 15th and Liberty streets
- Underground electrical work on Walnut between 3rd and 8th streets