On the morning of May 20, final touches were being made to the sub-grade at the bottom of the pit. This process must be completed before the first two tanks are to be installed the following day.T1 to T4 indicate the positions of the four tanks.
On May 21, Two Emergency Domestic Water Tanks were Set
Each tank holds 25,000 gallons of domestic emergency water. Each tank weighs approximately 5.5 tons empty.
Around 10 AM, two tanks arrived and were directed through the south gate, off of Barton Road. An interesting image with the tank in the foreground and the hospital towers in the background.The pit, the crane and the tank.The tank begins to rise off of the low bed. Having cleared the safety rails, the tank is carefully and slowly swung over the pit.Suspended in the pit.The first tank rests on the floor of the pit.By the end of the day, two tanks were strapped into position.
On May 22, the Final Two Tanks Were Set
Four tanks anchored to the dead men at the bottom of the pit.On the west side of the pit, lines were sprayed on the gravel to mark the layout of the pipes after they are connected to the tanks. True to its name, a rock dove (insert) — commonly referred to as a pigeon — was photographed in the bottom of the pit poking around in the gravel.On the following day, the pipes, fittings, and valves arrived. FRPs (Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester Manhole Risers) allow access to the tank covers from grade.A simple example of how the FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Polyester Manhole Riser) mounts on top of the manhole on the tank.
The Level “A” Tunnel, Which Connects the New Hospital to the Existing Medical Center
An overhead view of the tunnel excavation site.The image (inset) shows the tension rods before they were cut. In the center right of the larger image, we see that the tension rod(s) have been cut. The foreman of the job said that when the rods were cut, the sound was very sharp and loud like a large firecracker. In June of 2016, pipes were laid between the existing Medical Center and the foundation line. The purpose of the lines was required to reroute existing pipes (that were in a tunnel bisecting the width of what would be the construction pit) from the power plant to the north and the Faculty Medical Office buildings to the south. Some three-years later, those pipes would come into play when construction on the tunnel would beginBy July 5, 2016, the top of the tunnel that bisected the width of the pit had been exposed. The tunnel had to be demolished to excavate the pit, which required the pipes inside the tunnel to be rerouted to the west of the foundation wall.A worker directs the operator as the bucket makes a light scrape across the top of a pipe.Easy does it: An excellent view of the workers as they watch the excavation of the site. The two in the trench watch the bucket as it scoops the dirt. The two men at grade are communicating with the two men down below as they discuss pipe locations.More of the underground pipes are exposed.From the center of the excavation site: Now that all of the underground pipes have been exposed, shoring walls of timber will be used to keep the soil from collapsing,
The Demolition of the Endodontics Building to Make Way for the Power Generators.
Destined to the scrapheap of history: Five days before the Endodontics building would be razed.On May 21, 2019, the former Endodontics building was razed. My friend, Leaf Bakland, DDS, who practiced endodontics in the building for 30-years told me a few days after the building was demolished that: “To see the building go was a bittersweet moment, but it was time for her to go.”The building that once served as a clinic up on the hill before it was relocated to this site (Tract No. 2421, Lot 12, in the early 1950s) is but a memory.
Safety is the Watchword on the Job Site
This banner hangs from the scaffolding above the ground level lift platform. These signs are predominate around the work site.One of the signs posted on site to remind the workers ways to improve their strength and flexibility. Stretching exercises are illustrated. Tower glass laborers who will work the swing shift prepare for work by doing stretching exercises.
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 🔨
