The Future of Dulles Airport [and Metro line]
Mar 13, 2015, 10:27 am
#211
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
Silver Line phase II progress visible from 10,000 feet
This morning's flight went over IAD, and I was pleased to recognize the line of piers marching from the cell-phone lot all the way north to the Greenway. There still isn't much to see going in or out of the airport on wheels... but soon enough, I hope.
Mar 29, 2015, 3:06 pm
#212
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Hebron Maryland
Posts: 83
Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Pictures 03 28 2015
Work has begun at three of the five stations. All of the work being done is preparatory.
At Herndon the contractor installing the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route was excavating the shafts to tunnel the power conduits under the westbound Dulles Access Road. Similar work was being done in front and west of the site of the Dulles Airport station.
Crushed stone for the relocated westbound Dulles Access Road sub grade at the Innovation station was being put down east of a section that has been paved.
The abutments west of Sulley Road VA-28 for the bridge over Horsepen Run are done. DCMP has announced that the beams for the bridges will be set during the week of 04 06 2015.
South of the cell-phone parking lot a traveling crane to be used to set the elevated spans is being assembled. The ground along Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road is being prepared to accommodated the traveling crane.
Column construction continues north of Materials Road. Many of them now have column cap on them. Several of the yard lead column have begun coming out of the ground.
The right shoulder of the eastbound Dulles Greenway has been closed south of Old Ox Road in the area of the elevated flyover to the median.
Nothing has begun at the sites of the Loudoun Gateway (VA-606) and Ashburn (VA-722) stations.
On a side note. You will be able to see a movie at the Starplex multi screen cinema adjacent to the Ashburn station at Loudoun Station.
Test track and Commissioning Facility
Preparation of the grade for the test track continues along the right of way. Track has been laid from the south end of the test track to just south of the contractor right of way access location south of Greenbelt Road.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 03 28 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
This and previous posts in this series can be seen at cambronj.blogspot.com.
Work has begun at three of the five stations. All of the work being done is preparatory.
At Herndon the contractor installing the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route was excavating the shafts to tunnel the power conduits under the westbound Dulles Access Road. Similar work was being done in front and west of the site of the Dulles Airport station.
Crushed stone for the relocated westbound Dulles Access Road sub grade at the Innovation station was being put down east of a section that has been paved.
The abutments west of Sulley Road VA-28 for the bridge over Horsepen Run are done. DCMP has announced that the beams for the bridges will be set during the week of 04 06 2015.
South of the cell-phone parking lot a traveling crane to be used to set the elevated spans is being assembled. The ground along Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road is being prepared to accommodated the traveling crane.
Column construction continues north of Materials Road. Many of them now have column cap on them. Several of the yard lead column have begun coming out of the ground.
The right shoulder of the eastbound Dulles Greenway has been closed south of Old Ox Road in the area of the elevated flyover to the median.
Nothing has begun at the sites of the Loudoun Gateway (VA-606) and Ashburn (VA-722) stations.
On a side note. You will be able to see a movie at the Starplex multi screen cinema adjacent to the Ashburn station at Loudoun Station.
Test track and Commissioning Facility
Preparation of the grade for the test track continues along the right of way. Track has been laid from the south end of the test track to just south of the contractor right of way access location south of Greenbelt Road.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 03 28 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
This and previous posts in this series can be seen at cambronj.blogspot.com.
Mar 31, 2015, 5:55 am
#213
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Hebron Maryland
Posts: 83
Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Pictures 03 28 2015
Work has begun at three of the six stations. All of the work being done is preparatory.
At Herndon the contractor installing the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route was excavating the shafts to tunnel the power conduits under the westbound Dulles Access Road. Similar work was being done in front and west of the site of the Dulles Airport station.
Crushed stone for the relocated westbound Dulles Access Road sub grade at the Innovation station was being put down east of a section that has been paved.
The abutments west of Sulley Road VA-28 for the bridge over Horsepen Run are done. DCMP has announced that the beams for the bridges will be set during the week of 04 06 2015.
South of the cell-phone parking lot a traveling crane to be used to set the elevated spans is being assembled. The ground along Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road is being prepared to accommodated the traveling crane.
Column construction continues north of Materials Road. Many of them now have column cap on them. Several of the yard lead column have begun coming out of the ground.
The right shoulder of the eastbound Dulles Greenway has been closed south of Old Ox Road in the area of the elevated flyover to the median.
Nothing has begun at the sites of the Loudoun Gateway (VA-606) and Ashburn (VA-722) stations.
On a side note. You will be able to see a movie at the Starplex multi screen cinema adjacent to the Ashburn station at Loudoun Station.
Test track and Commissioning Facility
Preparation of the grade for the test track continues along the right of way. Track has been laid from the south end of the test track to just south of the contractor right of way access location south of Greenbelt Road.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 03 28 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
This and previous posts in this series can be seen at cambronj.blogspot.com.
Work has begun at three of the six stations. All of the work being done is preparatory.
At Herndon the contractor installing the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route was excavating the shafts to tunnel the power conduits under the westbound Dulles Access Road. Similar work was being done in front and west of the site of the Dulles Airport station.
Crushed stone for the relocated westbound Dulles Access Road sub grade at the Innovation station was being put down east of a section that has been paved.
The abutments west of Sulley Road VA-28 for the bridge over Horsepen Run are done. DCMP has announced that the beams for the bridges will be set during the week of 04 06 2015.
South of the cell-phone parking lot a traveling crane to be used to set the elevated spans is being assembled. The ground along Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road is being prepared to accommodated the traveling crane.
Column construction continues north of Materials Road. Many of them now have column cap on them. Several of the yard lead column have begun coming out of the ground.
The right shoulder of the eastbound Dulles Greenway has been closed south of Old Ox Road in the area of the elevated flyover to the median.
Nothing has begun at the sites of the Loudoun Gateway (VA-606) and Ashburn (VA-722) stations.
On a side note. You will be able to see a movie at the Starplex multi screen cinema adjacent to the Ashburn station at Loudoun Station.
Test track and Commissioning Facility
Preparation of the grade for the test track continues along the right of way. Track has been laid from the south end of the test track to just south of the contractor right of way access location south of Greenbelt Road.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 03 28 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
This and previous posts in this series can be seen at cambronj.blogspot.com.
Apr 16, 2015, 12:26 pm
#214
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 17
Virginia senators 'prepared to be jerks' to protect Dulles Airport
Virginia senators 'prepared to be jerks' to protect Dulles Airport
Michael Neibauer
Staff Reporter- Washington Business Journa
U.S. Sen. Timothy Kaine said Thursday he and fellow Democratic Sen. Mark Warner are "prepared to be jerks" to protect Dulles International Airport and slow the growth of Reagan National.
Kaine, speaking during the Dulles Matters seminar sponsored by the Committee for Dulles, said he may hold up the Federal Aviation Administration's upcoming reauthorization if his fellow members of Congress decide to push for more domestic flights at Reagan that breach the longstanding 1,250-mile perimeter.
<redacted>
Michael Neibauer
Staff Reporter- Washington Business Journa
U.S. Sen. Timothy Kaine said Thursday he and fellow Democratic Sen. Mark Warner are "prepared to be jerks" to protect Dulles International Airport and slow the growth of Reagan National.
Kaine, speaking during the Dulles Matters seminar sponsored by the Committee for Dulles, said he may hold up the Federal Aviation Administration's upcoming reauthorization if his fellow members of Congress decide to push for more domestic flights at Reagan that breach the longstanding 1,250-mile perimeter.
<redacted>
Last edited by JDiver; May 3, 2015 at 9:47 am Reason: Copyright violation - use few words and link
Apr 17, 2015, 10:31 pm
#216
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Between EWR & PHL
Programs: UA MileagePlus dirt (former hard-way Silver); AS Mileage Plan MVP; Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 1,586
Noticeably not addressed: the supposedly "temporary" C/D concourse and MWAA's unwillingness (?) to do what's needed and build a replacement midfield terminal, with or without UA's help.
Also...Warner thinks it's MWAA's responsibility to complete the Silver Line buildout? Since when does MWAA have oversight of WMATA?
Also...Warner thinks it's MWAA's responsibility to complete the Silver Line buildout? Since when does MWAA have oversight of WMATA?
Apr 17, 2015, 11:13 pm
#217
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AMEX Platinum, Global Entry, Priority Pass, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,594
MWAA is responsible for the construction of the Silver Line. The right-of-way is transferred to WMATA shortly before the beginning of revenue service.
Apr 18, 2015, 7:03 am
#218
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: VA, USA
Programs: Marriott LTT, United Club Life Member, UA *S
Posts: 995
And that tedious walk-back tunnel from the C Concourse AeroTrain station...
Apr 18, 2015, 9:57 am
#219
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
The renderings of the hypothetical future C/D concourse weren't up in the Aerotrain station Thursday morning. Anybody know when or why MWAA took them down?
Apr 20, 2015, 6:07 pm
#220
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bethesda, MD
Programs: Dulles Airport Traveler's Aid Volunteer, hopefully future United IK member
Posts: 116
Can't agree with you more. The "band aids" applied to the C/D concourse over the last couple of years (fresh carpeting, re-built bathrooms, lots of new-but-expensive food offerings) don't change that fact that it is a depressing place at best. At least the United Clubs are a bit of a refuge - but they don't hold a candle to any of the lounges in the A/B concourse.
And that tedious walk-back tunnel from the C Concourse AeroTrain station...
And that tedious walk-back tunnel from the C Concourse AeroTrain station...
It is so frustrating that other Hubs have been updated and there is no talk about them ever updating C/D at Iad. Sorry IAH, but the regional aircraft area should be one of the last updates of the hub facilities. It is also frustrating going over to A/B( excluding A1-A6) at IAD and it is extremely nice. Not sure who was responsible for updating the A/B section but if they built C/D like that, it would make the United experience at IAD better. Right now.
I think IAD is completely under-utilized UA-wise. EWR is pretty much at capacity, plus has weather and sky delays. ORD has weather delays and I have no problem with the other Hubs. If you can fly to Asia, Middle east etc from EWR you certainly can fly those routes at IAD. It is also located where they can easily have flights to the SE, Midwest, Northeast, South America and Latin America with no problem. They should be adding flights and returning flights to IAD instead of getting rid of them.
Apr 30, 2015, 9:02 am
#221
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: IAD
Programs: United MP
Posts: 7,822
Surprised not to see the news on the delay of phase 2: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...4f9_story.html
Apr 30, 2015, 10:41 am
#222
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: DCA, IAD (not BWI if I can help it)
Programs: UA 1MM 1K, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Explorist, status-free on AA, AS, B6, DL, WN, Amtrak, etc.
Posts: 1,481
Surprised not to see the news on the delay of phase 2: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...4f9_story.html
Monday’s announcement comes less than two weeks after the contractor told MWAA board members that the project was on schedule and that signs looked good for it to be completed in mid-2018. On Monday, the contractor, Bethesda-based Clark Construction, referred all questions about the delay to MWAA.
Then there's the actual work to be done. Not to sound like some know-it-all blowhard fixing the world's problems from a barstool, but I have a hard time thinking that better drainage mandates a 13-month delay when there aren't even shovels in the ground on most of the route. There's no way to design these expanded ponds/wetlands and this second drain pipe (as explained in Martin DiCaro's story for WAMU) concurrently with the rest of phase 2 instead of making everything else wait on them?
For that matter, why not offset the Silver Line's contribution to rainwater runoff with stormwater-management projects elsewhere? I had to think about that as we inched along 66 past a VDOT lane-addition project at East Falls Church that I strongly suspect did not get held up for redesign for an environmental spec that, like the Silver Line, it's grandfathered out of having to meet.
May 18, 2015, 9:05 pm
#223
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Hebron Maryland
Posts: 83
Sorry for the delayed response.
The deal here is you can't build a house that has an approved design on an unapproved foundation design.
All this storm water runoff pluming need to be installed before the stuff above it is built. If you don't have approved designs in hand you can't build anything above, that effects what needs to built below first.
The amount storm water runoff from the Metrorail right of way is not the only runoff that needs to processed. Roughly half of the Access Road and Greenway along the Metrorail right of way presently drains into the median. The median absorbs most of the sediment and some of the water. The absorption now done in the median by the turf an soil will be eliminated by the Metrorail right of way barrier. This absorption acreage needs to be built somewhere and the pluming needs to built to direct storm water runoff to it.
The deal here is you can't build a house that has an approved design on an unapproved foundation design.
All this storm water runoff pluming need to be installed before the stuff above it is built. If you don't have approved designs in hand you can't build anything above, that effects what needs to built below first.
The amount storm water runoff from the Metrorail right of way is not the only runoff that needs to processed. Roughly half of the Access Road and Greenway along the Metrorail right of way presently drains into the median. The median absorbs most of the sediment and some of the water. The absorption now done in the median by the turf an soil will be eliminated by the Metrorail right of way barrier. This absorption acreage needs to be built somewhere and the pluming needs to built to direct storm water runoff to it.
Jun 10, 2015, 6:11 am
#224
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Hebron Maryland
Posts: 83
Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, Pictures 03 28 2015
Preparation work has begun on the abutments for the bridge over Centreville Road.
Grading work has begun in the area of the Innovation station and extends to the east elevated abutment north of Aviation Drive.
The Steel for bridge over Horsepen Run was installed on 04 10 2015.
The first segments of the right of way barriers, westbound side, has been installed east of the Rudder Road overpass over the Dulles Access Road.
Work continues on the installation of the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route. Most is happening between the Herndon and Innovation stations. I will also noticed they are also installing the feed from the Virginia Power Dulles Airport substation along VA-28 Sulley Road between the Toll Road and Frying Pan Road.
Staging has begun for the construction of the columns west of the Dulles Airport station.
The first precast girders for the elevated were set on the columns along Air Fright Lane on 04 21 2015. Two spans have been set.
The Column in the median of Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road has been installed. The column cap has been partly completed.
All of the columns north to the east Dulles Yard lead junction are done. Two straddle bents columns that will support the mainline elevated over the eastbound Dulles Greenway off the shoulder have been installed.
The columns for both the east and west Dulles Yard leads are in various stages of completion.
Preparation for the relocation of the eastbound Dulles Greenway to accommodate the west Dulles Yard lead junction in the median is underway. The shoulder pavement has been milled off and grading is being done.
Nothing is being done along the Dulles Greenway west of VA-606 Old Ox Road. The preparation for the bridge over Broad Run remain unchanged.
Test track and Commissioning Facility
Track has been laid along the entire length of the right of way with the exception of the area in the vicinity of the contractor access south of Greenbelt Road.
Third rail segments have been delivered and are staged at various locations along the right of way.
I am assuming the crossover that access the test track along with the signal bases have been installed as those parts are no longer in the staging area in the south Kiss and Ride lot at the Greenbelt station.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 06 07 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
Captioned thumb nails along with the above and past essays can be view at cambronj.blogspot.com DCMP 06 07 2015.
Preparation work has begun on the abutments for the bridge over Centreville Road.
Grading work has begun in the area of the Innovation station and extends to the east elevated abutment north of Aviation Drive.
The Steel for bridge over Horsepen Run was installed on 04 10 2015.
The first segments of the right of way barriers, westbound side, has been installed east of the Rudder Road overpass over the Dulles Access Road.
Work continues on the installation of the 34.5 KV power feed bus that runs the full length of the route. Most is happening between the Herndon and Innovation stations. I will also noticed they are also installing the feed from the Virginia Power Dulles Airport substation along VA-28 Sulley Road between the Toll Road and Frying Pan Road.
Staging has begun for the construction of the columns west of the Dulles Airport station.
The first precast girders for the elevated were set on the columns along Air Fright Lane on 04 21 2015. Two spans have been set.
The Column in the median of Autopilot Drive north of Rudder Road has been installed. The column cap has been partly completed.
All of the columns north to the east Dulles Yard lead junction are done. Two straddle bents columns that will support the mainline elevated over the eastbound Dulles Greenway off the shoulder have been installed.
The columns for both the east and west Dulles Yard leads are in various stages of completion.
Preparation for the relocation of the eastbound Dulles Greenway to accommodate the west Dulles Yard lead junction in the median is underway. The shoulder pavement has been milled off and grading is being done.
Nothing is being done along the Dulles Greenway west of VA-606 Old Ox Road. The preparation for the bridge over Broad Run remain unchanged.
Test track and Commissioning Facility
Track has been laid along the entire length of the right of way with the exception of the area in the vicinity of the contractor access south of Greenbelt Road.
Third rail segments have been delivered and are staged at various locations along the right of way.
I am assuming the crossover that access the test track along with the signal bases have been installed as those parts are no longer in the staging area in the south Kiss and Ride lot at the Greenbelt station.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj DCMP 06 07 1015.
Pictures at picasaweb.google.com/cambronj Greenbelt Test Track and Commissioning Facility.
Captioned thumb nails along with the above and past essays can be view at cambronj.blogspot.com DCMP 06 07 2015.
Aug 5, 2015, 9:44 pm
#225
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Hebron Maryland
Posts: 83
WMATA: Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project progress update e-mail 08 05 2015
Design Changes Enhancing Safety and Reliability, Cause Phase 2 Delays
More than 150 modifications to the design for Phase 2 as well as weather and construction delays have added about 13 months to the estimated construction period for Phase 2 of the Silver Line. Many of those changes reflect design changes that were made in the final months of construction of Phase 1 and are now being integrated in the Phase 2 design. These changes will enhance safety and reliability.
"Over 100 design changes require additional design, engineering, construction, management and oversight work," said Charles Stark, executive director of the Silver Line project. "The added costs remain within the Phase 2 contingency budget of $550 million and will have no effect on the toll rates on the Dulles Toll Road," Stark said in late April.
Excavation for Phase 2 Stations, Substations To Remove Thousands of Cubic Yards of Dirt and Rock
Excavation for Phase 2 Stations, Substations To Remove Thousands of Cubic Yards of Dirt and Rock
Photo Capital Rail Constructors
The Silver Line Phase 2 design-build contractor is about to begin construction of the future Dulles Airport Station, one of six stations along Phase 2 of the Silver Line and located just south of Daily Garage 1 along Saarinen Circle.
The process will begin with mass excavation, a term used to describe the process of quickly removing large
amounts of material from a job site.
During a mass excavation process, large bulldozers, excavators, loaders and tandem dump trucks are used to dig out, load and take away dirt and rock at a rapid and efficient pace. At peak operation, as many as 15 dump trucks per hour may be moving into and out of the Dulles Airport Station job site.
Approximately 28,000 cubic yards of rock and 12,000 cubic yards of dirt will be removed from the Dulles Airport Station site during the excavation. Trucking routes will be carefully defined to minimize the impact on airport traffic.
The five Phase 2 at-grade stations will require an average of 13,000 cubic yards of mass excavation. Additional mass excavation operations will occur at some of the wayside facilities that support the rail system.
Some of the materials removed will be used as fill at other Phase 2 construction locations at Dulles International Airport.
Tower Crane Goes Up For Innovation Station
With temperatures near 90 degrees, Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project crews spent a July weekend assembling a tower crane in the median of the Dulles International Airport Access Highway, on the site of the Silver Line's future Innovation Center Station.
The crane tower (mast) rises approximately 187 feet and is outfitted with a 252-foot horizontal working arm (jib) able to lift 22,000 pounds of steel, concrete, large tools, generators and a wide variety of other building materials that will be used during the construction of the station. The crane's motors and counter weights are located in the shorter horizontal counter jib.
A second tower crane will be placed at the Herndon Station site in late 2015. Once the first crane has completed its work at Innovation Center Station it will be disassembled and moved onto the Reston Town Center Station site. Both cranes will be moved to the median of the Dulles Greenway to assist in the construction of the Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn Stations.
Photo Capital Rail Constructors
In Search of the Long-Eared Bat
Photo Northern Long-Eared Bat photo courtesy of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Contractors building the rail yard, located on Dulles Airport property off Route 606 in Loudoun County, for Phase 2 are at the forefront of national efforts to save the Northern Long-Eared Bat, a recent addition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) list of endangered species.
In mid-July the project undertook a week-long survey over seven nights from dusk to late night using nets to catch the bats which were identified for species and set free.
The creature is distinguished by its small size, large ears, and dark brown color and feasts on insects. These bats, whose population dropped 99 percent since 2006, are threatened by white-nose syndrome, a fungus that infects the environments where the bats hibernate.
The disease has killed more than 5.7 million bats in eastern North America, according to the FWS.
Construction sites in this region now must be surveyed to see if the Long-Eared Bats are roosting and raising their young before any work starts from mid-April through mid-September. "We are doing everything environmentally friendly that we can," said Stephen Barna, Package B project director.
The nightly vigils produced lots of bats but not a single Northern Long-Eared Bat which means construction work won't be delayed until mid-September.
But it's not so good for the little bats. "I think the fact that we have not found any Northern Long-Eared bats shows the extent of the demise," said John Nerich, lead construction specialist for the rail yard.
Bat captured on airport property
Photo Angela Cook
Silver Line Hailed at First Birthday Party
MWAA CEO Jack Potter and elected officials at Silver Line Anniversary
The Silver Line opened a year ago and business leaders, politicians and residents gathered in late July to celebrate as a long list of project proponents praised what many called the dramatic changes that continue to come to Tysons Corner and the entire Dulles Corridor because of the Silver Line.
Currently there are 20 plans for new mixed-use developments in Tysons. Experts said Tysons now <br> contributes more than $300 million to the Fairfax County tax base, a number that is expected to eventually hit $1 billion.
Wells + Associates reported on statistics that shows significant decreases in vehicular traffic in the Tysons area since the Silver Line opened:
Wiehle-Reston East Station, the temporary terminus of the Silver Line, continues to be the busiest station.
###
I think I may have mentioned this already, the tower crane setup at the site of the Innovation station is not the first time a tower crane was used to build a Metrorail station, George Hyman Construction used one to build the Arlington Cemetery station.
Link to PDF version at Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project web site.
John in the sand box of Maryland's eastern shore.
Design Changes Enhancing Safety and Reliability, Cause Phase 2 Delays
More than 150 modifications to the design for Phase 2 as well as weather and construction delays have added about 13 months to the estimated construction period for Phase 2 of the Silver Line. Many of those changes reflect design changes that were made in the final months of construction of Phase 1 and are now being integrated in the Phase 2 design. These changes will enhance safety and reliability.
"Over 100 design changes require additional design, engineering, construction, management and oversight work," said Charles Stark, executive director of the Silver Line project. "The added costs remain within the Phase 2 contingency budget of $550 million and will have no effect on the toll rates on the Dulles Toll Road," Stark said in late April.
Excavation for Phase 2 Stations, Substations To Remove Thousands of Cubic Yards of Dirt and Rock
Excavation for Phase 2 Stations, Substations To Remove Thousands of Cubic Yards of Dirt and Rock
Photo Capital Rail Constructors
The Silver Line Phase 2 design-build contractor is about to begin construction of the future Dulles Airport Station, one of six stations along Phase 2 of the Silver Line and located just south of Daily Garage 1 along Saarinen Circle.
The process will begin with mass excavation, a term used to describe the process of quickly removing large
amounts of material from a job site.
During a mass excavation process, large bulldozers, excavators, loaders and tandem dump trucks are used to dig out, load and take away dirt and rock at a rapid and efficient pace. At peak operation, as many as 15 dump trucks per hour may be moving into and out of the Dulles Airport Station job site.
Approximately 28,000 cubic yards of rock and 12,000 cubic yards of dirt will be removed from the Dulles Airport Station site during the excavation. Trucking routes will be carefully defined to minimize the impact on airport traffic.
The five Phase 2 at-grade stations will require an average of 13,000 cubic yards of mass excavation. Additional mass excavation operations will occur at some of the wayside facilities that support the rail system.
Some of the materials removed will be used as fill at other Phase 2 construction locations at Dulles International Airport.
Tower Crane Goes Up For Innovation Station
With temperatures near 90 degrees, Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project crews spent a July weekend assembling a tower crane in the median of the Dulles International Airport Access Highway, on the site of the Silver Line's future Innovation Center Station.
The crane tower (mast) rises approximately 187 feet and is outfitted with a 252-foot horizontal working arm (jib) able to lift 22,000 pounds of steel, concrete, large tools, generators and a wide variety of other building materials that will be used during the construction of the station. The crane's motors and counter weights are located in the shorter horizontal counter jib.
A second tower crane will be placed at the Herndon Station site in late 2015. Once the first crane has completed its work at Innovation Center Station it will be disassembled and moved onto the Reston Town Center Station site. Both cranes will be moved to the median of the Dulles Greenway to assist in the construction of the Loudoun Gateway and Ashburn Stations.
Photo Capital Rail Constructors
In Search of the Long-Eared Bat
Photo Northern Long-Eared Bat photo courtesy of Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc.
Contractors building the rail yard, located on Dulles Airport property off Route 606 in Loudoun County, for Phase 2 are at the forefront of national efforts to save the Northern Long-Eared Bat, a recent addition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) list of endangered species.
In mid-July the project undertook a week-long survey over seven nights from dusk to late night using nets to catch the bats which were identified for species and set free.
The creature is distinguished by its small size, large ears, and dark brown color and feasts on insects. These bats, whose population dropped 99 percent since 2006, are threatened by white-nose syndrome, a fungus that infects the environments where the bats hibernate.
The disease has killed more than 5.7 million bats in eastern North America, according to the FWS.
Construction sites in this region now must be surveyed to see if the Long-Eared Bats are roosting and raising their young before any work starts from mid-April through mid-September. "We are doing everything environmentally friendly that we can," said Stephen Barna, Package B project director.
The nightly vigils produced lots of bats but not a single Northern Long-Eared Bat which means construction work won't be delayed until mid-September.
But it's not so good for the little bats. "I think the fact that we have not found any Northern Long-Eared bats shows the extent of the demise," said John Nerich, lead construction specialist for the rail yard.
Bat captured on airport property
Photo Angela Cook
Silver Line Hailed at First Birthday Party
MWAA CEO Jack Potter and elected officials at Silver Line Anniversary
The Silver Line opened a year ago and business leaders, politicians and residents gathered in late July to celebrate as a long list of project proponents praised what many called the dramatic changes that continue to come to Tysons Corner and the entire Dulles Corridor because of the Silver Line.
Currently there are 20 plans for new mixed-use developments in Tysons. Experts said Tysons now <br> contributes more than $300 million to the Fairfax County tax base, a number that is expected to eventually hit $1 billion.
Wells + Associates reported on statistics that shows significant decreases in vehicular traffic in the Tysons area since the Silver Line opened:
- 15 percent fewer cars at Scotts Crossing/Colshire Drive.
- 11 percent fewer cars at Anderson Road/Dulles Access Highway off-ramp.
- 7 percent fewer cars at Route 123 at Old Meadow Road/Capital One Drive.
Wiehle-Reston East Station, the temporary terminus of the Silver Line, continues to be the busiest station.
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I think I may have mentioned this already, the tower crane setup at the site of the Innovation station is not the first time a tower crane was used to build a Metrorail station, George Hyman Construction used one to build the Arlington Cemetery station.
Link to PDF version at Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project web site.
John in the sand box of Maryland's eastern shore.