234 replies to this topic

[JBB]

I would say they'll be doing real well if construction is going by the end of the year and it's open by the end of 2020.

[Austin55]

If a 350 foot tunnel takes longer than a 27 mile rail line...

[Electricron]

If a 350 foot tunnel takes longer than a 27 mile rail line...

Digging under always takes longer than building at grade or over.

A 35 mile long tunnel in Switzerland just recently opened after 15 years of construction. 

It's not going to take 15 years to construct the 20 odd mile long TexRail line. 

https://en.wikipedia...ard_Base_Tunnel

The total projected cost of the project was 9.8 billion Swiss francs (€8.85 billion, US$10.3 billion^[14]); the final cost exceeded $12 billion.

Being less than 20% over budget isn't that bad considering the lengthy construction period. But even the budget conscious Swiss have problems keeping huge construction projects under budget.

[Doohickie]

I would say they'll be doing real well if construction is going by the end of the year and it's open by the end of 2020.

 

Will that mean Cleopatra will finally be out of excuses regarding the T&P Warehouse?

[youngalum]

Nope on Cleopatra--just stalling for the tax write-offs.  When it finally comes time to do something, they will sale the building

[Doohickie]

Nope on Cleopatra--just stalling for the tax write-offs.  When it finally comes time to do something, they will sale the building

 

That works for me too.

[Austin55]

http://www.star-tele...e141065928.html

 

Should restart in Fall.

[JBB]

So, in about 6 weeks, it's gone from a Summer to a Fall restart. I'm feeling pretty good about my year end prediction.

[rriojas71]

they had a groundbreaking for this project on Wednesday. I like the idea of the connector, but I'm not sure why they believe it will have a big impact. Is it just because it will be another way into Downtown? Jennings St. is pretty much the same as this proposal right?

[JBB]

I agree. I get that the south side is booming right now, but this seems like an expensive solution without a problem.

[rriojas71]

I agree. I get that the south side is booming right now, but this seems like an expensive solution without a problem.

Yeah. I hope I'm wrong and it becomes heavily used which creates more street buzz in the area which in turn will help promote more midrise mixed-use developments.

[Doohickie]

I've said that all along.  There's Hemphill a block east, Main 4 blocks east, and Henderson 4 blocks west.  And Summit/8th Ave. 3-4 blocks west of Henderson.

 

I like to think that eventually it will lead to some kind of trolley or light rail going into one of the tunnels.  Other than that, I have no idea why it's needed.

[Volare]

Just to piggy back on what others have said, there are a lot more constrained directions out of downtown than the one to the south. Consider to the west, where it's either Lancaster or 7th Street bridge. Or to the North, where it's basically Main Street and that's it. And to the East, you have Belknap and 4th.

[Doohickie]

There's also Samuels to the north, but yeah, there's already lots of connectivity to the south.  And to the east, Lancaster.

[Austin55]

Restarting this month, taking 30 months to complete. Sometime in 2020.

 

http://fortworthtexa...amar-connector/

[BlueMound]

Wow, I can't believe this is actually going to happen !

[RD Milhollin]

I looked around but could not determine if the updated plans would allow for future streetcar tracks through the tunnel. Does anyone know if this option was factored into the design?

[Austin55]

WFAA did a story on it

 

https://t.co/uuorUQOuFa

[A_Random_Username]

Saw a crane on site by Vickery and Hemphill last night. didn't drive by today but looks like more dirt is there. not sure if this is related to the connector or part of the T&P project (doubtful but who knows).

[JBB]

Definitely part of the connector project.  Tons of rebar for piers piled up on the work site.

[Austin55]

Here's a slide from the 1927 Bartholomew Plan proposing a Hemphill - Lamar overpass

 

[A_Random_Username]

Drove by the site last night and there is a looooooot of dirt moved. Also a lot more machinery on site too.

[pelligrini]

I saw that yesterday too when I headed over to the post office. One piece of equipment about disappeared below grade already. Coming back I saw a big long dirt hauler very carefully navigating into the East entry of the T&P warehouse parking lot at the corner of Jennings and Lancaster.

[A_Random_Username]

Even more equipment and personel are there, with a substantial amount of dirt gone. Its rather satisfying seeing this type of project happen.

[A_Random_Username]

Drove by tonight and saw a lot more has been done to the site. Its starting to look more like a tunnel now. Even the bridge is looking like a bridge.

[johnfwd]

In another thread someone asked why it should take two years to complete this tunneling project.  Probably government red tape prolongs the construction process.  If that includes making sure that labor and materials meet public safety standards, I'm all for it.  I wouldn't want to drive through this lengthy tunnel otherwise.

[JBB]

I wish I understood why this project is so important when there are 2 other perfectly functional connections less than a half mile away. It is costing a fortune, far more than originally projected, and I would bet that a portion of that money would be more than enough to remodel and beautify the connections at Jennings and Main.

[Doohickie]

I wish I understood why this project is so important when there are 2 other perfectly functional connections less than a half mile away. It is costing a fortune, far more than originally projected, and I would bet that a portion of that money would be more than enough to remodel and beautify the connections at Jennings and Main.

And Henderson, for that matter.

[pelligrini]

The Jennings/Vickery tunnel has had some work done recently. Most of the deteriorating vehicular guards at the south were cut off and replaced. There is still a lot of the concrete work to the north that is in bad shape.

 

I don't see a big need at the moment for the Hemphill connector. Henderson is pretty busy, but Jennings is very underused. When the near south really fills in it will probably be a welcome connection.

[renamerusk]

The Jennings/Vickery tunnel has had some work done recently. Most of the deteriorating vehicular guards at the south were cut off and replaced. There is still a lot of the concrete work to the north that is in bad shape....I don't see a big need at the moment for the Hemphill connector. Henderson is pretty busy, but Jennings is very underused. When the near south really fills in it will probably be a welcome connection.

 

 In the "Street Car" thread, I have suggested that the Jennings Street Viaduct is the logical connector for a street car line between Downtown and Near South; and that utilizing this existing tunnel after upgrade and modification would be an economically sound component of a transit line.

[Austin55]

Looking like a tunnel

 

http://fortworthtexa...amar-connector/

[johnfwd]

Looking like a tunnel

 

http://fortworthtexa...amar-connector/

Great photo taken closer to the project.  I've been observing only from Lancaster.  Does anyone know if new boring equipment has been invented that makes tunneling faster and more efficient?

[AndyN]

Johnfwd, not sure if you recall that the bridge over Hemphill was built when I-30 was relocated south of the railroad in anticipation of the future tunnel. All they have to do is remove the dirt. The railroad is the tricky part where the tracks are being relocated to a shoefly and then bridges will be constructed.

[Austin55]

You can even see the bridge from satellite view

 

https://www.google.c...=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

[John T Roberts]

I believe I pointed the bridge out in the very early discussions on this thread. 

[Austin55]

To my eyes it looks like this *should* finish by the end of the year, the progress is fast. The tunnel is mostly dug out on the Near South side and they've already got some road poured S of Lancaster. The 2020 date seems so far. 

[txbornviking]

To my eyes it looks like this *should* finish by the end of the year, the progress is fast. The tunnel is mostly dug out on the Near South side and they've already got some road poured S of Lancaster. The 2020 date seems so far. 

 

I've thought that same thing a few times watching this hole be dug out. Like, how is "end of 2020" the target? Clearly we're missing something.

[Doohickie]

Art installations can take a long time.

[John T Roberts]

What about the tunnel under the railroad?  Has that work been started?  If it hasn't, that may be what will take so long.  If you remember, the "bridge" of the interstate had already been constructed over where the road was going, so all the contractors had to do was to dig the back filling out from under it.

[Austin55]

I can't see the bridge from Vickery but it must be the hold up. Everything else looks like it's flying along.

[AndyN]

I don't see any evidence that the southernmost tracks have been cut out yet, but at least one of the shoefly tracks is in place. I'll look at it when I go home today. I usually take the Forest Park exit but the Lancaster is just as easy if the traffic isn't horrible.

[Austin55]

Price said at the State of the City at will open "later this year"

https://twitter.com/...018402564427777

[Austin55]

5/1/18

 

[johnfwd]

Is that bridge safe?

[AndyN]

No. It has I-30 on top of it. Lots of traffic and potential for accidents.

[Doohickie]

Is that bridge safe?

 

I think it was mentioned upthread that when they rebuilt I-30 they built this section as a bridge in anticipation of the tunnel being dug out under it in the future.

[Austin55]

Fort Worth is an expert in building bridges over nothing.

[Doohickie]

Fort Worth is an expert in building bridges over nothing.

 

So we got that going for us.

 

 

Which is nice.

[Dylan]

Is that bridge safe?

 

This particular bridge should be safe.

 

However, a few other "bridges over nothing" that Austin refers to... uh... maybe not.

 

http://www.star-tele...le67607812.html

 

One year later...

 

http://www.fortworth...8845d1c6d4.html

[johnfwd]

Still, after that bridge collapse in Florida, I would cringe when crossing this Fort Worth bridge.