Big pour after big dig: ’20 trucks an hour’ was not an exaggeration

(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Just back from checking out the next big phase of work at the Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Project site across from Lowman Beach – the first of three days of pouring concrete for the 17-foot-thick base on which the million-gallon storage tank will sit. King County Wastewater Treatment was not exaggerating when it warned of ~20 trucks an hour – we spent about 15 minutes at the site, and counted seven trucks arriving in the span of five of those minutes as we waited to cross Lincoln Park Way back to our car.

Two big pump trucks are continuously pouring what those trucks are bringing (here’s a bit of video via Instagram) – scheduled to continue until about 6 pm today, and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, 7 am to 6 pm or until done. As mentioned in the alert, there are extra parking restrictions in the area until this is over. The entire facility is on a timeline for completion in mid-2016. The excavation that preceded the foundation pour took two months and removed what the county described as enough dirt to fill nearby Colman Pool twice.

Dennis Hinton December 5, 2014 (12:29 pm)

You would be amazed at the number of people who stop by
to see “the hole”on a daily basis. A great vantage point from
the sidewalk on Lincoln Park Way.

WSB December 5, 2014 (12:38 pm)

It is! Besides photographing it for these periodic updates, we also stop by and just catch a snap to put on Instagram or Twitter, infrastructure geek that I am … During the pour, though, you can’t park on that side and we would warn people to be very careful if trying to cross Lincoln Park Way … as mentioned, we stood at the Murray corner and waited through seven trucks (plus a few cars).

JanS December 5, 2014 (12:41 pm)

While some of the neighbors are none to happy about this Big Dig, I think it’s fascinating…

kas December 5, 2014 (1:54 pm)

Thanks for posting upcoming “pour” days – couldn’t make it out today, but look forward to (walking over) to view on Tuesday! :)

Sarah December 5, 2014 (5:15 pm)

The approach to the site is very narrow, especially near the park. A big truck traveling way too fast nearly side swiped me this morning. These trucks really need to go very very slow and carefully on these residential streets. Maybe this reckless and cavalier driver was the exception, but it’d be good to know that this message could somehow get to all of the drivers.

4thGenWashingtonian December 5, 2014 (5:24 pm)

Lemme guess, they’re coming up and down Holden in highland park, where they can’t even fit to pass each other so rip the mirror off my truck… again.

trickycoolj December 5, 2014 (5:49 pm)

Wow. That is quite the line of cement trucks. Begs the question, could they have barged it in somehow reducing impact on the small roads?

Chuck and Sally's Van Man December 5, 2014 (6:59 pm)

@Sarah: I feel your pain. I was in contact with the good folks on the Hotline (206-205-9186) all day, reporting the MANY truckers who were ignoring the prescribed route and traveling up Graham instead of out to the Junction on 48th. Even after called on it, a fair number seemed to ignore the directive. Hey, they’ll be gone in a few days and they don’t live here–what do they care? While Kelly was most courteous and helpful, the truckers are a different lot. Let’s just say they don’t like having their picture taken… If you’ve not called the hotline to report the sideswipe (truck ID numbers located at the top of the cab are helpful), I’d recommend you do so. Same goes for 4thGen; the Hotline folks really do seem to care, at least. I feel for them; working with these jerk drivers must be like sweeping up after elephants.

John December 6, 2014 (6:35 am)

Are we all sure that the trucks not going the prescribed routes are the ‘big pour’ trucks?
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There are dozens of other multi-truck pours occurring daily during this boom.
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And please remember that this construction is an extremely temporary disturbance that will provide long term livability and enhancements in our community.
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Please entertain a bit more time flexibility in your plans this time of year, the days are short, dark and drizzly, we all have the Christmas rush and holiday stresses.
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Last month I needed a crane to back into a driveway off of a residential street at 8 in the morning. The crane did not have a sharp turning radius and required several steps of turning by edging back and forward.
This blocked the RESIDENTIAL Street just as a UPS, delivery, or garbage truck does.
It took a couple of minutes.
Almost immediately, backed up drivers using the residential street as an ARTERIAL started honking. Someone actually just laid continuously on their horn.
Such activity just worsens the situation.
Sadly, the location on Pigeon Point is close to a school where young children, some in the honking cars, were exposed to such behavior.
The truck driver was at work, doing his job to the best of his ability.
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I usually try to schedule trucks later in the morning, but with the days so short, we had no affordable option.
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For those we blocked, please accept our apologies.
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Peace & Goodwill.

Waded in the water December 6, 2014 (4:27 pm)

The cement trucks are also using using SW Raymond!! I’ve got a great picture of a truck and the SW Raymond Street sign. They might have joined the queue for the micro-housing foundation pour on California Ave SW that was going on at the same time? Guess I’ll keep calling the hot line….

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