Omaha Streetcar - CONSTRUCTION

[Garrett]

Design optimizations are in progress for the streetcar track on Farnam west of
38th Street in Blackstone. Kiewit is taking a brief pause on construction in this
section while updates are finalized

I wonder if this means an extension into UNMC, or if it is jut part of the normal construction.

Otherwise, great to see continued progress. I've been impressed with their construction across Dodge at 10th. They've managed to do most of the prep work without having to fully shut down the street, which has avoided some minor headaches. If they can really get the rail laid and concrete in 4 days, I'll be happy. And hopefully it is a good indicator for when they build through other important intersections.

I think this is bureaucratese for "The Brother's Longue situation is a |expletive|"

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Design optimizations are in progress for the streetcar track on Farnam west of
38th Street in Blackstone. Kiewit is taking a brief pause on construction in this
section while updates are finalized

I wonder if this means an extension into UNMC, or if it is jut part of the normal construction.

Otherwise, great to see continued progress. I've been impressed with their construction across Dodge at 10th. They've managed to do most of the prep work without having to fully shut down the street, which has avoided some minor headaches. If they can really get the rail laid and concrete in 4 days, I'll be happy. And hopefully it is a good indicator for when they build through other important intersections.

When the streetcar was first announced it seemed like the end station was going to the administration building at one time on an elevated track. I wonder if they’re going to instead end it at project NEXT now with a similar set up to the cancelled administration tower.

[stadsborgare]

A couple new developments:


Cement was poured this past week on a section of track leading from 8th and Farnam up to almost would-be 9th.


Rails have been delivered on site between 10th & 11th on Harney.


Forms are in place on track from 11th to 13th on Harney. It remains to be known whether they'll do a cement pour soon on that, or finish the track layout all the way to 10th first, and then do the whole thing at once.


Work has come along nicely under the 480 bridge, they have embedded the track almost to the bottom of the slope going under Dodge.

[stadsborgare]

End of August update:

I wondered, what have they been working on all week? Harney & Farnam have been fairly quiet of late, but...


They've done some major work on 8th Street, under the Dodge Street bridge.



Not very visible to the average passing motorist, but obviously an important junction in the artery.

And now on 10th Street, the line has been extended south past Dodge toward Douglas

As they've completed crossing Dodge, they can finish the paving or striping or whatever and open this important through-street back up again.

So now, they have the track in its various stages of completion running continuously from just north of Douglas, up 10th Street, making a right turn onto Capitol, then curving to the right again, down the slope and onto 8th and running under Dodge (this is the direction the streetcar will run) to the turnoff for the maintenance facility.


Progress continues on Harney toward 15th Street.

[stadsborgare]

*Labor Day update*


On Farnam, concrete poured over tracks up to almost 10th Street. So from 8th & Douglas rounding onto 8th & Farnam, up to 10th & Farnam, embedded track basically done. Just some more paving to be done around it.


It appears the 10th Street bridge is next on the agenda.



Over on Harney, tracks between 10th & 11th have been straightened out.




The platform for the 10th & Farnam stop appears to be taking shape by the way the edges are being paved.


Under the I-480 bridge, another section has been poured.

(this week)


(last week)

Also between this week and last week, Dodge has been opened up again, so you can come in from Council Bluffs by this route. They worked pretty fast to get this artery back open.

Wait till they have to close 10th & Douglas intersection, won't that be fun. And see how fast they can get that done.

[skinzfan23]

Wonder why the grinded 10th st on the bridge like that. I surely hope it’s not to lay asphalt.

[Busguy2010]

Wonder why the grinded 10th st on the bridge like that. I surely hope it’s not to lay asphalt.

Wasn't it said the bridge wouldnt be rebuilt? Rather, I recall hearing it would be ground down to accommodate the rails, and would not be like the rest of the track.

[locoluke]

They’ve re-striped Harney on either side of the I-480 bridge. I don’t think they left quite enough space between the parking spaces and the travel lanes…

[stadsborgare]

This is only a guess, but you know the way Houston created 26 lanes on the Katy freeway that wound up causing "induced demand" albeit unintentionally, maybe Omaha is smartly limiting lanes on Harney and Farnam to create "reduced demand" and make drivers want to avoid them. We sort of push all that extra traffic onto Douglas and Dodge. And if people don't like it, we have the streetcar.

[stadsborgare]

Mid-September update


They're finally crossing the Rubicon, otherwise known as 13th Street, in the streetcar construction. Both Farnam and Harney - 13th St. is still open for traffic (for now) as cars will consolidate into one lane and drive over large metal plates.


Harney Street tracks has finally been poured between 11th & 13th Sts. I had wondered when they would ever get to it, and here's my answer.

I especially like this stretch of the route, because it passes by these historical buildings from the 1800s. Past meets the future, and an homage to streetcars past...sort of.


10th Street, from Harney to Farnam is barricaded on the eastern half, so I guess that is next on the agenda.


On the 10th St. bridge, work is progressing. On the right, on the pedestrian path they have these wooden forms all set up. It will be interesting to see how they do this part of the project.

[Busguy2010]

Ooh! I really love #3 because of the old buildings. Imagine if those buildings had a conscience. The things they'd have seen, and to see it come back full circle... Thats no small feat in Omaha!

[NEDodger]

. Imagine if those buildings had a conscience.

Hopefully they would choose good over evil.

[stadsborgare]

Update - 13th Street

They seem to work fast when they're crossing a major through-street. At both Farnam and Harney the streetcar line now crosses 13th. Perhaps it is not long before they can reopen 13th St. to traffic again.

(Farnam and 13th)


(Harney and 13th)

This is one of those rare opportunities when I can take photographs from the middle of 13th St. and not get run over.

more pics




Track-laying continues westward towards 14th St.


Now on the 10th St. bridge, I'm guessing these are forms they have set up.



Like maybe here they will pour concrete around the tracks first, or something like that?