The Week of April 20, 2020 — Dirt, Blocks, Trenches, Road Realignment, Holes, the Pandemic Continues, and the Construction Goes On

There are more signs that the project is moving toward completion. The three construction yards (north yard, south yard, and east yard) are not needed so much anymore. The cranes, the steel, the heavy and oversized equipment, and the aerial lifts are now gone. For the most part, The big bulky stuff, attributed to the construction, is imperceptibly disappearing on a daily basis. Now that most of the construction activity has shifted to the interior of the building, most of the storage containers, and smaller equipment can be returned to the rental companies or moved back to the subcontractor’s construction yard. This attrition allows for the surveyors to come back on sight and begin work on the rough grade work. The southwest section was the first area to be surveyed and rough graded. This week McCarthy (the contractor) closed the east Anderson Street gate to allow for the surveyors and heavy equipment to begin removing the asphalt and rough grading this section before work begins on the underground utilities and the final grade. Now that the east lifts are gone and the main work entrance to the interior of the building having been relocated on the south side, the east yard is no longer the hub of activity where all the laborers and supplies and materials congregated to take a lift up to the various floors.

The east side of the campus will include a new entrance to be relocated a few yards south closer to Barton Road. Upon entering the east entrance, one will have the opportunity to turn right where the road will pass the flag poles and bend to the left (west) into a small parking lot (north parking) where there will be approximately 30 parking spaces that include 10 handicap spaces. This north lot will exit at the east end of the main entrance. This area will be the last to be rough graded as all of the construction trailers are currently located in this area (on the southwest corner of Anderson Street and Prospect Avenue).

To enter the east parking lot, the driver will go through east entrance, turn right and take an immediate left down a sloping drive where to the left there will be approximately 50 parking spaces (12 of which will be reserved handicap spaces). Just to the south of the east parking lot, it is my understanding this is where an amphitheater is planned. This is the area where the rough grade excavation is going on. Included in the excavation, a rough cut is being made from the upper grade main drive to the lower level where the east parking lot will be. An approximate, fifteen foot high retaining wall will be constructed to separate the upper road to the east parking lot below.

Once the east side has been completed, the crew will move to the southeast area where the rough grading will begin. Currently this section is the holding area for storage pods, equipment, and other materials. This area will be cleared out in the next couple of weeks.

On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, the main entrance to the Medical Center was fenced off so work can begin on the permanent realignment of the main entrance to the Loma Linda University Health Troesh Medical Campus. This change or rerouting will coincide, and to be less disruptive to patients and visitors, with the ongoing construction of the Galleria and Main Entrance Canopy. The main Troesh Medical Campus entrance will be off of Prospect Avenue just west of Anderson Street..

PANDEMIC SIGNS and GEAR

STAY SAFE . . . STAY HEALTHY

Around the site and throughout the building McCarthy has posted signs which give directions on how to stay safe and healthy. The whole team on the site follow the “Rules” and are proud to display their garb including masks and their social distance buttons.

The East Yard: Rough Grade Make Ready

One of the less hectic days around the east yard as the aerial lift was no longer operative.

On April 4, 2020, upon entering the east Anderson Street gate, I could tell that the east gate entry was closed to any and all vehicles including delivery trucks. By the time I had arrived an excavator had considerable progress in tearing up the asphalt in the east yard,

After entering the east gate, I took a quick left and walked south (parallel to Anderson Street) along the service road to get a better look at the progress. I was impressed to see that the asphalt had been cleanly stripped.

A view of the excavator in action from the service road above.

The following afternoon, I photographed this delivery truck parked down in the east yard. The excavation had halted for the day, and evidently the truck was allowed down in the yard to make a delivery of materials that was needed to be delivered in the area. Most likely, the material would be lowered to Level “A” via a lift located at the northeast corner of the building.

By Wednesday, April 22, 2020, excavation was underway cutting back the south bench on which up to a few days prior, metal sheds housing materials and equipment had been located. It was interesting to learn that the asphalt being excavated in this image served as base and reinforcement for the bench.

By Friday afternoon, April 24, 2020, progress had been made on the bank cutback. On top (at the left just out of the frame) will be be the service road to the Emergency Departments on the south side of the building. At the base of the cutback will be the footing for the wall.

It appears that the cutback meets rough grade. At the foot of the cutback a deep trench will be excavated for the reinforced concrete footing.

The Emergency Generator Site — Update

Stacking Blocks Continue

The south wall, with about five rows before it is topped off.

Dennis E. Park, MA

After graduate school Dennis accepted a position at Loma Linda University. He worked there for 42 years in the areas of administration and financial management, also teaching accounting and management to dietetic students at the School of Public Health. Through the years Dennis has chronicled the growth of the campus, including the construction of the Drayson Center and the Centennial Complex and the razing of Gentry Gym. He is the author of "The Mound City Chronicles: A Pictorial History of Loma Linda University, A Health Sciences Institution 1905 - 2005." dEp 09.30.2016 🔨

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