ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

Yikes - there's some serious concrete reprofiling going on at R&T Park station!

   
I had noticed a steadily-growing mound of concrete at the South end of the platform, from the trail... but it didn't occur to me that it was actually coming from the platform itself.

   
On the West side of the platform (Southbound/Gauntlet tracks), a long ditch is being carved out, starting at the South end, heading North.  It's almost to the end of the platform now.

   
On the East side of the platform (Northbound), block-shaped sections are being chipped out, at non-regular intervals.

   
Unrelated to the above work, while I was there, I thought I'd take a photo of the connection at the North end of the platform, to the Philip-side development.  I think they'll have to replace the track ties here, with wider ones, to accommodate the deck plates that are typically used at crossings.

[tomh009]

Very pleased to spot the welding crew by Full Circle just now. Once that is welded and the track embedded, it will close the final gap on Charles within the downtown loop!

The welds are done and ground down now.  Where is the concrete truck when we need it?

Concrete forms started now, so we should see the tracks embedded in the coming week.
   

[Canard]

Ooo, somehow I missed that Borden/Charles is closing for 4 weeks, starting this morning - guessing for Northbound track installation! Borden Southwest to Charles Northwest will remain open, so that supports my guess as to what they're up to.

[tomh009]

Yes, I think so. They had the track location marked in the pavement so I expect to see it torn up shortly. There was no equipment there this morning yet, though.

[Canard]

That's great news. With the curbs already in on Charles, between Ottawa and Borden, we might see some good progress here over the next month (ie, total finalization).

[tomh009]

That's great news. With the curbs already in on Charles, between Ottawa and Borden, we might see some good progress here over the next month (ie, total finalization).

Hopefully the work will continue onto Ottawa, which is currently roughly graded, but still needs curbs, sidewalks, (light and cat) pole foundations, pavement -- and the embedded track!

[Canard]

Is Ottawa wet-utility complete, though? I haven't been down Ottawa proper in a few weeks to investigate. I was under the impression that all of the above was still a few months away.

[tomh009]

Apparently, yes, given that they are (supposedly) preparing for the base coat of asphalt (haven't seen much activity though) on Ottawa. And Ottawa is supposed to open mid-August, that's only about a week away.

Clearly the embedded track and the sidewalks won't be done by then. Hopefully at least the curbs will be in place.

[Pheidippides]

The beams supporting the roof and the roof supports for the Laurier-Waterloo Park are now in. I'll see if I can get a photo on my way home. Actually looks like a station! Ironic that the station that will likely have the least utility in the system seems to be getting a lot of the "firsts."

[Markster]

The beams supporting the roof and the roof supports for the Laurier-Waterloo Park are now in. I'll see if I can get a photo on my way home. Actually looks like a station! Ironic that the station that will likely have the least utility in the system seems to be getting a lot of the "firsts."

If anything, that's the one I would choose to do first. It's the least disruptive for any remediation.

[KevinL]

The beams supporting the roof and the roof supports for the Laurier-Waterloo Park are now in. I'll see if I can get a photo on my way home. Actually looks like a station! Ironic that the station that will likely have the least utility in the system seems to be getting a lot of the "firsts."

I think that may be on purpose - if anything needs to be corrected, adjusted, reworked, etc it's on a low-use structure where it will not have a heavy impact.

[Canard]

Latest ion update has lots of goodies:

• ION stop and driver’s facility at Conestoga Mall
  
• The new lot on the north side of the track at Seagram has been paved
  
• Installation of the frame for the Willis Way anchor wall
  
• Work has commenced on the Northbound Central Station LRT stop at the King Street Grade Separation
  
• (Borden) Landscaping and the installation of sidewalks, as well as the overhead catenary system
  
• Work at the Huron Spur/Borden will commence on or about August 22 to continue the track from Borden onto the Huron Spur
  
• Ottawa/Mill intersection closure will be extended and will now re-open on or about October 15
  
• Block Line/Courtland will close on or about August 15 for approximately two months. A detour will be in place via Manitou to Bleams to Homer Watson
  

Very fascinated by the stop work under the grade sep. It's so hard to see what's going on there, especially since the connection path in front of Google is now closed.

[Pheidippides]

   
   
   

For the record, I did not say using this stop first was a bad idea, just that it was ironic.

[Canard]

1/1 - Monday, August 8, 2016

   
Lots of progress today at the Seagram stop!

   

   

   

   
Top-notch fabrication here - beautiful welds and finish on this! If only the weldments I designed could come back to our shop this nice.

[KevinL]

Is there a reason the pole bases are sunk into the concrete? Will they be refilled, or covered somehow? If they fill with water, will this be a problem if there's a sudden freeze?