washington park
Streetcar exhibited at Cincinnati Maker Faire
A family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness will take place this weekend at Washington Park in historic Over-the-Rhine. Cincinnati Maker Faire, inspired by the national Maker Faire by MAKE Magazine, will exhibit over 90 inventors and their trades, including a feature on the Cincinnati Streetcar.
“Coming Soon: The Road To Tomorrow!” will be the largest display of innovation at the faire. Manager Rail Services for METRO, Paul Grether, will be on hand answering questions about the streetcar project, and will showcase a built-to-scale model of a modern day streetcar. The booth, which will be located on the Elm Street side of the park, will also provide visitors with an up-close look at construction of the route. This week, Delta Railroad placed the first piece of steel track on Elm Street. Since then, a total of five sets of the 80-foot lengths of rail had been laid.
Part science fair, part county fair, Cincinnati Maker Faire is anticipated to be the greatest show (and tell) on Earth. The free event will take place this Saturday, October 19 and will run from 12pm to 10pm.
- Map of exhibits at Cincinnati Maker Faire
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.
First streetcar tracks for phase one to be installed in October
The first streetcar tracks are planned to be installed this October along Elm Street in front of Music Hall. The Business Courier reports that this is a month ahead of schedule. The City of Cincinnati, meanwhile, notes that this work will cause some traffic restrictions.
Construction for the Cincinnati Streetcar’s track bed will require removal of stone pavers* along Elm Street for cleaning & storage, affecting the section of road between Music Hall and Washington Park.
Elm Street will be reduced to one lane between 12th and 14th streets beginning Monday, Sept. 16.
The left-hand lane will remain open, and traffic will be maintained. (A “taper” funneling traffic to the left lane will begin just south of 12th Street.)
The Elm Street entrance to the Washington Park Garage will remain open at this time.
Also, as we explained in last week’s newsletter, 14th Street will be closed between Central Parkway and Race Street for sewer work.
City officials say that the pavers along Elm Street will be removed during construction of the tracks, and then replaced as part of the final product. So no need to fear…the lovely cobblestone section of Elm Street will remain.
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.
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.
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