RitcheyRch
11-14-2007, 11:16 AM
Looks like the truck bound lanes will be open by the end of the week.
http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=51689&format=html
The southbound commute on Interstate 5 through the Newhall Pass should be a little easier by the end of the week. Repair work on the tunnel truck lanes, closed for more than a month after a fiery crash Oct. 12, is scheduled to be complete late Thursday afternoon.
Security Paving Inc. of Oxnard was awarded the contract by Caltrans to rebuild the tunnel, with workers from both laboring around the clock since Oct. 29 to ensure completion within the 33-day timeline prescribed by the state.
A 31-vehicle collision killed three people and sparked an inferno in the tunnel late Oct. 12, prompting the temporary closure of the tunnel and of I-5 in both directions.
Under terms of Security Paving's contract, Caltrans incorporated an incentive/disincentive clause to expedite work and encourage completion of the tunnel by Nov. 15. Specifically, the road must open for traffic at 12:01 a.m. Friday for the repair work to be consider on time.
As part of the incentive provision, Security Paving is slated to earn up to a $2.9 million bonus for completing the $11.1 million project by Thursday evening.
Conversely, if they fail to complete the contract by Thursday evening, Security Paving will owe the state $150,000 per day for each day of incomplete work plus liquidated damages.
However, workers on site are confident that the project will be complete by Thursday night.
""I put every hour I had into completing this project," said Mike Mattivi, who supervised the entire project for Security Paving. "We hit a home run. It went very well. We had some great subcontractors working together on this."
Security Paving anticipated concrete work to be complete Monday night, while workers will spend most of today performing cosmetic work. By Friday morning, commuters will be able to resume using the tunnel truck road and bridge.
Several safety measures were incorporated into the project to improve the safety of the tunnel.
Approximately 500 lights were installed in the tunnel to make it brighter and safer. Also, the tunnel walls are covered with a white-colored, reflective fireproofing coating that will prevent the tunnel from being burned or damaged as it was in the Oct. 12 blaze. The tunnel walls were also constructed with new rebar support.
Other repair work includes slab replacement, concrete barrier and metal beam repair, partial ceiling replacement and repairs to the tunnel walls. Caltrans replaced all the concrete and rebar in the tunnel. Close to 1,400 yards of concrete was used to repair the 800-foot tunnel and the bridge directly above. Security Paving used rapid setting concrete to expedite repair work. The concrete can establish up to 4,000 pounds of concrete within eight hours. According to Security Paving workers, traditional concrete can take up to 28 days to establish itself at 4,000 pounds, which is enough concrete to support most driving conditions.
Superior Gunite was subcontracted by Security Paving to repair the tunnel walls. According to Ron Federico, executive vice-president of Superior Gunite, 140 workers worked over 48 consecutive hours to complete the tunnel walls, allowing for the concrete to be poured by Security Paving this week.
"We expect to be 100 percent complete (by Thursday)," he said.
http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=51689&format=html
The southbound commute on Interstate 5 through the Newhall Pass should be a little easier by the end of the week. Repair work on the tunnel truck lanes, closed for more than a month after a fiery crash Oct. 12, is scheduled to be complete late Thursday afternoon.
Security Paving Inc. of Oxnard was awarded the contract by Caltrans to rebuild the tunnel, with workers from both laboring around the clock since Oct. 29 to ensure completion within the 33-day timeline prescribed by the state.
A 31-vehicle collision killed three people and sparked an inferno in the tunnel late Oct. 12, prompting the temporary closure of the tunnel and of I-5 in both directions.
Under terms of Security Paving's contract, Caltrans incorporated an incentive/disincentive clause to expedite work and encourage completion of the tunnel by Nov. 15. Specifically, the road must open for traffic at 12:01 a.m. Friday for the repair work to be consider on time.
As part of the incentive provision, Security Paving is slated to earn up to a $2.9 million bonus for completing the $11.1 million project by Thursday evening.
Conversely, if they fail to complete the contract by Thursday evening, Security Paving will owe the state $150,000 per day for each day of incomplete work plus liquidated damages.
However, workers on site are confident that the project will be complete by Thursday night.
""I put every hour I had into completing this project," said Mike Mattivi, who supervised the entire project for Security Paving. "We hit a home run. It went very well. We had some great subcontractors working together on this."
Security Paving anticipated concrete work to be complete Monday night, while workers will spend most of today performing cosmetic work. By Friday morning, commuters will be able to resume using the tunnel truck road and bridge.
Several safety measures were incorporated into the project to improve the safety of the tunnel.
Approximately 500 lights were installed in the tunnel to make it brighter and safer. Also, the tunnel walls are covered with a white-colored, reflective fireproofing coating that will prevent the tunnel from being burned or damaged as it was in the Oct. 12 blaze. The tunnel walls were also constructed with new rebar support.
Other repair work includes slab replacement, concrete barrier and metal beam repair, partial ceiling replacement and repairs to the tunnel walls. Caltrans replaced all the concrete and rebar in the tunnel. Close to 1,400 yards of concrete was used to repair the 800-foot tunnel and the bridge directly above. Security Paving used rapid setting concrete to expedite repair work. The concrete can establish up to 4,000 pounds of concrete within eight hours. According to Security Paving workers, traditional concrete can take up to 28 days to establish itself at 4,000 pounds, which is enough concrete to support most driving conditions.
Superior Gunite was subcontracted by Security Paving to repair the tunnel walls. According to Ron Federico, executive vice-president of Superior Gunite, 140 workers worked over 48 consecutive hours to complete the tunnel walls, allowing for the concrete to be poured by Security Paving this week.
"We expect to be 100 percent complete (by Thursday)," he said.