The Ramps

07.05.16 – 1

No Ramp 07.05.16

07.12.16 – 2

The initial ramp 07.12.16

07.28.16 – 3

The detour 07.28.16

09.23.16 – 4

The ramp returns to its original location 09.23.16

12.08.16 – 5

On December 8, 2016, the soil was being transferred from the existing ramp to construct a new ramp in the northeast corner of the pit. The new ramp
will replace the existing ramp in order to complete a section of the east shoring wall. In the late afternoon, the assistant superintendent and I        were the only ones left on the subgrade floor. Jack was gracious enough to take a photograph of me standing in the middle of the pit. I             remarked as we walked up the ramp, that the site was strangely quiet other than the traffic on Barton Road.

09.23.16 – 6 ?

After we walked up the ramp, I turned around and took my last photo of the ramp. Early the following morning, the big bucket of an excavator would begin removing the soil from the east shoring wall. A front loader would transfer the soil to the new ramp just a few yards to the north.

09.23.16 – 7 ?

The following morning, I arrived on the job site and walked to where the ramp was blocked off. The large bucket of the excavator was within ten feet of the camera lens. The excavator operator was carefully removing the soil from the top of the shoring wall.

The excavator from another angle which illustrates how close the bucket is from the edge of the wall. Derrick (far right) discusses a safety rule with one of his coworkers.

A portion of the east shoring wall has been exposed. A laborer carefully shovels away the soil from the leading edge of the wall. The new ramp,
which is being built up is visible between the boom of the excavator.

As the ramp rises up the shoring wall, carpenters box in the ducting to prevent the compacted soil from breaking the stubbed out PVC pipes.

Because the new ramp is narrower than the old ramp, foot traffic on the ramp will be prevented, necessitating the construction of another scaffold stairs. This second scaffold stair is being erected at the southeast corner of the construction pit. The other scaffold stairs is located at the
north shoring wall, which is approximately 32 feet above subgrade.

The completed stair scaffold–some 45 feet above subgrade–is a real cardio nightmare.

One more box to be put up before more dirt can be dumped against the shoring wall.

After tier three has been exposed, the excavator operator scrapes excess soil from between the soldier piles.

12.12.16 – 14

On Monday morning December 12, 21016, the front loader operator continued to build and compact the new ramp at the northeast shoring wall.   The excavator operator continued removing the soil away from the east shoring wall.

12.12.16 – 14

A view of what was once the east ramp, which is slowly being excavated from the shoring wall. The third of three tiers has been exposed
(cut back). A working bench is being prepared for the heavy equipment to work from. After the shotcrete on tier three has
cured, the second tier will be cut back and the process will start over. one and two are exposed,
all three tiers will be prepared for shotcrete.

2.12.16 – 15?

A view of the old ramp from the top of the east shoring wall. Since Friday morning approximately 22 vertical feet has been excavated. To reach subgrade another ten feet needs to be excavated. The excavator operator is in the process of building a bench next to the east shoring
wall from where heavy equipment can work as the first cutback is prepared for rebar, anchor rods, and shotcrete.

2.12.17 – 16?

By noon, the ramp is nearing the appropriate slope to crest the northeast shoring wall. According to the engineer, the front loader operator should
crest the shoring wall before the end of the work day.

2.12.17 – 17?

By the time I returned from lunch, the plastic K-rails had been moved away from the ramp and the large front loader bucket greeted me at the top    of the wall. With a few more bucket loads spread out near the crest of the wall along with several compaction passes, the ramp will be completed.

2.12.17 – 18?

A little after 3 PM, the front loader summited the shoring wall.

2.12.17 – 19?

The ramp now crests over the shoring wall and onto the parking lot. Earlier in the afternoon one of the crew drove his truck down the ramp.                   Now he waits for the front loader to finish the compaction before he makes his way back up the ramp.

2.12.17 – 20?

Jeff makes his way to the top. A sure sign the ramp will be ready for use by morning.

2.12.17 – 21?

The end of the day . . . the front roller compactor and the skip loader make their way up the ramp.

03.09.17 – 22

During the early part of March excavation began on the last ramp.

03.13.17 – 23

In the shadow of the east shoring wall, the excavation of the northeast ramp nears completion.