New Irvington Tunnel in the News!

In print and on camera, everyone wants to know more about the New Irvington Tunnel. Check out the amazing photos of the past and present day construction and detailed exhibits in June 2011 issue of Tunnels and Tunneling International. READ ARTICLE

Next take a tour with Tunnel Talk and watch their coverage of the Rapid Excavation and Tunneling Conference’s (RETC) up close look at the New Irvington Tunnel. WATCH VIDEO.

Tunneling at Irvington Portal has Started

Update
On June 20, Southland/Tutor Perini JV began tunnel excavation from the Irvington Portal in Fremont. The contractor will advance the tunnel using a road header (a tracked tunnel excavator) and controlled detonation if necessary depending on the rock conditions. Other construction support equipment will load and haul the excavation spoils from the site to a disposal area on Calaveras Road in the Sunol Valley.

Controlled Detonations
If the road header encounters harder than anticipated rock conditions underground, the use of controlled detonations may be necessary. This involves the use of small amounts of explosives to fracture the rock material so that it can be removed by the tunnel machinery. Safety horns would be sounded a set period of time before each event. We will monitor to ensure that controlled detonations comply with all local, state and federal safety, noise, and vibration requirements. Controlled detonations are only allowed to occur Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 7:00PM and on Saturday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. No more than two controlled detonations are anticipated per day on the days that controlled detonations are needed. But most of the excavation is anticipated to be successful by the road header alone.

Notification
Due to the nature of tunneling, it is challenging to predict far in advance when controlled detonations would be necessary. The SFPUC will provide residents with advanced e-mail notification of controlled detonations as early as possible (24 hours minimum). To receive e-mail notifications of controlled detonations, please send a message to fzamora@sfwater.org.

Residential Construction Surveys
Many residents exercised their option to have photographic and video surveys of their property prior to construction. These surveys document existing cosmetic and structural cracks for each property and are used as basis for evaluating claims of new damage caused by construction activities. If you have not had a survey conducted please contact the SFPUC as soon as possible, we may conduct surveys until July 6, 2011. Please call 866.973.1476 and reference the New Irvington Tunnel Project or e-mail fzamora@sfwater.org to schedule a photographic and video survey.

Questions?
Please call our 24-Hour Answer Line at 866.973.1476.

NBC Bay Area. Sunol Water Project Trying to Head off Major Quake.

Calaveras Dam Replacement Project Construction Contract Awarded

The construction contract for Calaveras Dam Replacement project was awarded on May 24, 2011 to Dragados, USA/Sukut Construction, Inc./Flatiron West Inc. joint venture for approximately $259 million.

KTVU Video: New Irvington Tunnel Project Underway

Want to take an exclusive look at the New Irvington Tunnel? Check out KTVU Channel 2's sneak peak at the construction taking place to seismically upgrade the aging Hetch Hetchy Water System.

http://www.ktvu.com/video/27877116/index.html

Construction Moves Forward for Improvements at the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant

Construction is moving forward for the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant Expansion and Treated Water Reservoir Project. As of April 2011, construction for the overall project is 25 percent complete. Recently the contractor, Shimmick Construction Company, Inc., completed the extensive earthwork and soil nail wall required to build the new treated water reservoir, which included the removal of over 400,000 cubic yards of material. This work is part of various improvements that will enable the treatment plant to treat enough water to meet basic customer demands alone for up to 60 days after a major earthquake as well as improve water quality at the plant. All these improvements are expected to be completed in summer 2013.

Workers finish securing the soil nail wall, which will help stabilize the treated water reservoir. Photo courtesy of Robin Scheswohl.

The excavation work for the treated water reservoir included the removal of over 400,000 cubic yards of material. Photo courtesy of Robin Scheswohl.

Tunneling Begins

On Friday, March 11, the AQM 150-HR Roadheader began grinding its way west and has reached a distance of 25 feet. Tunneling will pause for approximately a week to complete the installation of the portal yard, ventilation and permanent power. Railroad tracks will also be installed behind the road header. The tracks are needed because as spoils generated they are collected on a conveyor belt and loaded onto rail cars for transport outside of the tunnel.

When tunneling resumes the roadheader will travel an average of 22 feet per day until it reaches the Vargas Shaft (14,300 feet away). A sister roadheader headed in the opposite direction will rendezvous with the machine sometime in 2013.

The roadheader’s boom-mounted cutting head that hacks away at rock face.

The boom-mounted cutting head is capable of excavating the 13-foot horseshoe shaped dimensions of the tunnel.

The Roadheader starts its journey from the Alameda West Portal

Spoils generated are collected on a conveyor belt attached to the roadheader and loaded onto rail cars for transport outside of the tunnel.