With expected completion sometime in the middle of 2016, the OC Bridges construction project (led by the OCTA) at Orangethorpe and Tustin/Rose is in full swing. Being right next to the construction, I see a fairly good amount of what is being done.
After building the bypass road and closing Tustin/Rose for a block both north and south of Orangethorpe, the road was ripped up and a lot of dirt was used to build up the inclines leading up to the bridge. The south side of Orangethorpe had the walls built up first, after which drilling began to place the columns that will support the bridge. So far (as of April 2015) the framework for two sets of five columns are in place.
Here are a few shots of the progress on the south side of Orangethorpe beginning in July 2014 before Tustin/Rose was closed, and ending with a recent shot from April 2015.
I like how the “Road Closed Ahead Local Traffic Only” sign is tucked away in the yellow barrels when it should be out on the street. There are so many cars that still drive down the street only to find that Orangethorpe is closed further down (due to more construction) and end up having to do u-turns…
It’s pretty cool how they maneuver those columns into place. Starting from a horizontal position on the ground, they use two cranes to lift, tilt and position the column in a vertical position, drive it to the hole that was drilled then lower it into the ground. I also didn’t realize how tall the columns were and how much of it ends up underground (easily more than half the height).
With the columns in place I can see that much of my view of trains passing by will be reduced.
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief heading to Chicago
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