Streetcar Progress Update: Week Ending Oct. 18

In case you missed the big announcement... THE RAIL IS HERE!

On Tuesday, Mayor Mark Mallory led the countdown to place the first rail in the ground along Elm Street next to Music Hall.

Each rail is an 80-foot-long, 3,000-lb. piece of American steel manufactured right up the road in northern Indiana.

• Learn more about the process & see photos from the event

Workers use a gauge bar to check the distance ("gauge") from the inside of the rail to the inside of the other rail to ensure that it is exactly 4 feet 8.5 inches, which is so-called "standard" or "railroad" gauge commonly used by transit and railroads across the U.S. and the world.

Coordinating With Utility Companies

A big part of keeping on time and on budget is making sure utility companies stay out ahead of trackwork.

Why does that matter, you ask? And why are they even part of the project?

Well, for starters, you don't want to have to shut down passenger service on the Streetcar every time a utility needs to get to their underground infrastructure through a manhole (or dig a trench to get to it).

Secondly, the track bed (as we explained back here) has a specific depth & space it needs.

We're carefully coordinating this project to keep the utility work ahead of the trackwork ... so that when we're ready to move onto the next block, all the utilities on that blocked are buttoned up.

But it's not just about us - it's about you, too: We're working closely with the utility companies, Metro, and other partners to minimize any disruption to businesses, residents and workers along the route. (Plus, you're getting newer, better utility infrastructure along the route - part of ongoing utility infrastructure renewal taking place city-wide.)

A Duke Energy crew prepares to rebuild an underground electrical vault at 12th and Race streets.

Crews are backfilling basements with soil to prep for construction of the Maintenance & Operations Facility.

Work On Vine & Walnut Streets

With utility work underway in Over-the-Rhine and the Central Business District, there are a few street closures to keep in mind this weekend & into next week:

Vine Street: Saturday (6am) to Monday (6am)

Through traffic will be prohibited on Vine between Central Parkway and 12th Street (just 1 block). Also, eastbound 12th Street will be closed between Vine and Jackson (again, 1 block).

You'll still be able to get into the parking lot on the northeast corner of 12th & Vine, and into the Gateway garage via Central Parkway. Local businesses remain open!

(Intren, Duke's contractor, thinks they'll be done at about 5 p.m. each evening... so you might not even see this closure if you're around after that.)

Walnut Street: Overnight (7pm-5am), Sunday to Thursday

Walnut Street will be closed between Central Parkway and Court Street each night for a water main replacement.

They'll start at 5pm Sunday and 7pm each night thereafter, wrapping up around 5am Thursday.

Again, local access for businesses and residents will be maintained.

Progress This Week:

• Backfilling and foundation demolition continued at the Maintenance & Demolition Facility site near Race and Henry streets.
• Exploratory digging for utilities continued at Walnut and 8th streets; and resumed on Elm Street just north of Liberty Street.
• Conduit installation for traffic signals continued on Race Street near the School for Creative and Performing Arts. Work resumed near Elm and Liberty streets; and on Elm just north of Elder Street.
• Water main installation continued on Walnut Street from Central Parkway to just south of Court Street.
• New sewer installation continued on Elm Street near Liberty.
• Removal of existing pavement continued on Elm between 12th and 15th streets. Work began on Elm Street between 15th and Odeon streets.
• Undercutting, proof-rolling, under drains & concrete base work continued on Elm Street next to Washington Park. Work began one block north, between 14th and 15th streets.
• Rail delivery and installation started on Elm next to Washington Park.
• Duke Energy conducted underground gas work on Race at Elder Street; and on Race just north of Liberty.
• Duke also conducted underground electrical work on 12th near Republic Street; and on Race at 12th Street.
• Cincinnati Bell worked on Race near Green Street; and on Race at Elder Street.
• Business surveys and resident notifications took place on Elm Street between Wade and Green streets.

Planned For Next Week:

• Water main installation will continue on Walnut from Central Parkway to 9th Street. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times (except for the closure noted above).
• Conduit installation for traffic signals will continue on Elm just north of Liberty; and on Race near 12th Street. Work will resume on Race near Findlay Street. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
• Exploratory digging for utilities will continue on Elm just north of Liberty. Work will resume on Race near Findlay Street. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
• New sewer installation will continue on Elm at Liberty Street. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times.
• Backfilling will continue at the Maintenance & Operations Facility site. Storm sewer work, sidewalk removal and asphalt removal will begin. Traffic will be minimally restricted at all times; pedestrians will be routed around the site.
• Existing pavement removal will continue on Elm Street between 14th and Wade streets. Traffic will be limited to one lane.
• Undercutting, proof-rolling, under drains & concrete base work will continue on Elm from 12th to 15th streets. Traffic will be limited to one lane, and the Elm Street entrance to Washington Park Garage will remain closed.
• Rail delivery and installation will continue on Elm next to Washington Park. Traffic will be closed on Elm Street on Thursday, Oct. 24, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• Duke Energy will conduct underground gas work on Race Street near Liberty.
• Duke will also conduct underground electrical work on 12th at Vine Street; and on Race near 12th Street. Traffic will restricted as detailed above.
• Cincinnati Bell will perform work on Elm between Green and Findlay.