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Team 3 ILCA Pittsburgh Labor Media Center Project North Shore Connector Tunnel Project
Guides: Ron Sapp, IUOE 66 and Greg Vogt, IBEW 5 Contacts at site:
Mark Mitchell, Senior Project Engineer, Port Authority
Randy Marnhout, Project Superintendent, Trumbell Corporation
Jim Gillespie, Superintendent, Wellington Power Corporation
Under the direction of group Leader Randy Lyman, Patricia Bauer, Gary Schoichet, and I met our contacts at the worksite of this very aggressive project, to learn about the making of the twin underwater tunnels being constructed. The 1.2 mile project, broke ground in early 2006, and is still ongoing. Eventually, the light rail system will allow downtown workers an easy access to the city’s business district. Starting with 140 to 160 workers in the early stages in October 2006, to working a dayshift only now, as Union laborers, electricians, equipment operators, carpenters, and ironworkers all put their finishing touches on this massive undertaking.
The above ground elements include the 13 “bathtub” structural supports, measuring 125 feet long, which are perched upon 14 piers. They are supported by 187 aggregate piers averaging a depth of 40 foot each. The $563 Million Dollar project will compliment the ongoing improvements planned or being planned for the North Shore. The crown jewel is the logistics involved to allow the boring machine from Germany to work its magic. Taking approximately one calendar year to complete tunnels, the 550 ton, 200 foot long computer controlled, laser guided machine moved 20 to 30 feet per day. The tunnels are 21 foot diameter, and each of the 11 inch thick wall segments are custom fitted, keyed, bolted together forming a secure and solid ring. Ending up with 754 segmented rings, on an average of 7.5 degree grade, to a total depth of 80 foot, which is 22 feet below the bottom of the river bed.
Having to construct a slurry pump facility to extract the 61,600 cubic yards of soil and rock, required four 500 horse powered pumps with 12 inch lines. The underground station structure has 2 ½ foot thick walls, and a 3 ½ foot thick ceiling. All of the rails will be welded solid above ground and pushed into place from above ground, one section at a time. A forced air ventilation system assures safe conditions for all. The contract includes the use of only domestic produced materials, and Union labor. From the initiated idea phases starting in January 1995, until the projected completion date of December 2011, we are witnessing the fruits of our labors.
This is an example of Steeler Nation at its best. Proud , hardworking men and women, safely toiling, day and night, to provide a greener, more efficient transportation system for future generations to enjoy. Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity to participate.
http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/Portals/Capital/NorthShore/BoreToTheShore.swf
http://www.theboretotheshore.com/index.html
http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/Portals/Capital/NorthShore/NSCFacts.pdf
