The Week of July 29, 2019 — Excavating, Forming, a Helicopter, and the Pits
With the exception of a MERCY AIR ambulance, we will begin this week, which will slide into August on Thursday, where we left off last week. As previously mentioned, I am a sucker for any and all helicopters — those air ambulances — that come in for a landing either on the north helipad or the south helipad above the Children’s Hospital. Today, July 29, 2019, was no exception. I happened to be in the right place at the right time. A MERCY AIR ambulance came in for a landing on the south helipad. The featured photo for this week will be an image of that helicopter. The featured image of the helicopter is apropos as I was able to capture it along with the heavy equipment involved with shoring the “fire water” pit.
The Domestic Water Pit — Update
A crew was down in what was left of the domestic water pit spreading sand around on top of the tanks. Parts had been laid out as pipefitters were laying out various parts to be attached to the tanks.Just west of the tanks is a sand pile, gravel pile and a section for the parts/hardware to be offloaded where they will be sorted and then delivered to the assembly site.
The Fire Water Pit — Update
Just down the way from the sand pile, gravel pile, and the parts/hardware stash, the heavy equipment used in driving the steel beams into the ground were standing tall. I could tell that the drill bit on the machine closest to me was being worked on.Sure enough, a welder was repairing the end of the bit.As I snapped the photo of the welder repairing the bit, I heard the all-too-familiar rotor sound of an approaching helicopter. Can you spot the reflection of the helicopter in the glass panels to the right?Not long after landing, the helicopter took off.After being the sunk deep in the ground, the pilings stand above grade on the south side.
The Tunnel Trench — Update
The tunnel construction site as viewed from the roof (16th floor) of the Adult Hospital tower.Before the cap (top) of the tunnel is poured, the west end section will be cut out, which open the tunnel to level “A” of the existing Medical Center.Chipping away at the shotcrete at the east end of the tunnel, which opens into level “A” of the new construction.
The Schuman Pavilion Pedestrian Bridge and Elevator Tower Pit –Update
Early Monday morning, the carpenters started removing the forms from the north column and transporting the pieces to the south columns. The forming of the south columns nears completion. Once the two columns are formed they will be bridged (connected) at the top.The south columns arise above the safety fence. The image was taken from the center of the entrance drive.Turning 180-degrees in the entrance drive, the north pedestrian bridge column stands after the side forms were removed. The center support connecting the two columns is still braced.
The Backup Generator Pit — Update
The north side of the north support column as viewed from the elevator pit site.Down in the lowest level of the elevator pit, the rod busters and carpenters are at work.
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 🔨
