The Transbay Transit Center Contruction Project in San Francisco reached a special milestone on Monday, February 10th 2014: excavation work to make the underground “box” that will accommodate the structure, bus road levels, and train track levels, was finished. Now, the part of ‘filling in’ the box starts.
To understand what I mean, please take time to look at this video I made on the Transbay Transit Center Construction progress to the point of July of 2013, as it focuses on the development of that “box,” which I then go down into under the guidance of TransBay Joint Powers Authority staff:
Monday’s milestone marked the end of an excavation process which removed 640,000 cubic yards of soil from a work site that spans four city blocks and is among the largest excavations in the City’s history. The excavation for the Transit Center is the equivalent of 120 Olympic size swimming pools or has enough room to stack 50,400 Mini Coopers. The TJPA recycled much of the excavated soil or sold it for reuse on other construction projects while bay mud or soil with high clay content went to clean landfills.
With the soil removed, crews are free to continue laying the five-foot thick layer of cement that will serve as the foundation for the future Transbay Transit Center. The foundation, the pouring for which began in September, will ultimately require 60,000 cubic yards of concrete. Once the foundation is complete, the TJPA will begin erecting the structural steel for the Transit Center
“This brings us another step closer to the opening of the ‘Grand Central Station of the West,’ said Maria Ayerdi-Kaplan, Executive Director of the Transbay Joint Powers Authority. “The Transbay Project has revitalized San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood and will continue to generate economic growth throughout the region. Construction of the new Transbay Transit Center will strengthen the Bay Area’s position as a national leader in sustainable, transit-oriented development.”
“After more than three years of hard work below grade, we are excited to bring this building to life as the steel framework emerges from the excavation,” said Executive Director Ayerdi-Kaplan.
The Transbay Transit Center, located between Beale, Mission, Second, and Howard Streets in San Francisco, will be a revolutionary transportation facility. When the Transit Center opens in late 2017, it will connect eight Bay Area counties and is designed to accommodate 11 transit systems, including Caltrain and future intercity rail. The emerging South of Market neighborhood, focused on the new Transit Center, will become the new heart of downtown San Francisco. To learn more about the Transbay Project, please visit the website at www.TransbayCenter.org
Zennie Abraham | Zennie Abraham or “Zennie62” is the founder of Zennie62Media which consists of zennie62blog.com and a multimedia blog news aggregator and video network, and 78-blog network, with social media and content development services and consulting. Zennie is a pioneer video blogger, YouTube Partner, social media practitioner, game developer, and pundit. Note: news aggregator content does not reflect the personal views of Mr. Abraham.