Streetcar Progress Update: December 22, 2014

Happy Holidays from the Cincinnati Streetcar team!

The Cincinnati Streetcar Newsletter team will be taking a break over the holidays, so the next time you see the weekly streetcar update in your email inbox won’t be until 2015. 

2015 promises many exciting developments on the streetcar construction front, as trackwork resumes in the Central Business District, overhead wires start to appear in Over-the-Rhine, and the first streetcar vehicles arrive in Cincinnati.     

In the meantime, the Cincinnati Streetcar team wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season! 

To celebrate the holiday season, this week’s newsletter features three videos of some recent construction work along the route.  Click the images below to view the videos.  Enjoy!

Last week, MPD crews closed the OTR track loop with this thermite weld.  As a result, there is now approximately 1.5 miles of continguous streetcar track running from Henry Street north of Findlay Market to 12th Street south of Washington Park.  This loop will serve as the test track for the first streetcar vehicles, which will arrive in 2015.  

Click the image above for a video of the weld.  

 

Also last week, this traction power substation (TPSS) unit was delivered to the corner of Race and Findlay Streets.  One of four such units along the route, this substation will provide electric power to the overhead lines which will power the streetcar vehicles.  

Click the image above for a video of the delivery.  

 

You may recall that back in July and August of 2014, the 12th and Race intersection was closed in order to install four switches and a crossover track which comprise the 12th & Race Diamond.

Click on the image above for a link to the OFFICIAL Cincinnati Streetcar Facebook page, where you can find a timelapse video of the seven-week transformation of the 12th & Race intersection into the Washington Park Junction.  Be sure to "like" us while you're there!  

Special Thanks to Urban Sites for helping to make this video possible!

 

Block by Block Construction (December 22, 2014-January 4, 2015)

This week's construction news covers two weeks, since we won't be publishing our next update until 2015.  

MAIN STREET

• At 2nd: track concrete base work, rail installation ( 2 weeks remaining)
• 2nd to 3rd: approach slab work, TPSS#1 foundations (3 weeks remaining)
• At 5^th: Duke Energy conduit installation (5 weeks remaining)
• 5th to 6th: Water main tie ins (1 week remaining)
• 9th to 12th:  Water main tie ins (1 week remaining)
• 7^th to Court: Duke Energy cable pulling (9 weeks remaining)

 

WALNUT STREET

• At 2nd: track concrete base work, rail installation (2 weeks remaining)
• 2^nd to 3^rd:  approach slab work (1 week remaining)
• 7^th to 9th: traffic control conduit installation & rehab (1 week remaining)
• 9^th to Central Parkway: OCS pole foundations (1 week remaining)
• At Central Parkway: traffic control conduit installation & rehab (1 week remaining)

 

ELM STREET

• 12th to Henry:  OCS bracket arms installation (1 week remaining)

 

RACE STREET

• Sellew Alley to Henry:  curb & sidewalk restoration (1 week remaining)

 

12th STREET

• Race to Elm: curb & sidewalk restoration (1 week remaining)