The Vasco Rd Safety Improvements Project - Phase 1 is designed to improve the safety of approximately 1 mile of Vasco Rd between the cities of Brentwood and Livermore. This stretch of twisting Vasco Rd has heavy, fast moving traffic and a history of serious injury accidents. The project consists of installing a concrete median barrier along the 1 mile project limits and widening the southbound pavement to provide a truck climbing lane, thereby eliminating the gap in the existing truck climbing lanes along Vasco Rd. To accommodate these safety improvements, 6 retaining walls, storm drains, wildlife crossings, and a bridge widening will be constructed. This project is anticipated to take 1.5 yrs (2 construction seasons) to complete, anticipated in December 2011. Check out this blog from time to time to see updates on construction progress and facts about the project.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Inclinometers and Bridge Foundation Work Begins

This week Teichert Construction started to access the hillside north of Brushy Creek bridge to prepare for installation of 2 retaining wall structures. Part of this preparation work is exploratory drilling and inclinometer installation. Exploratory drilling in the hillside is necessary for County engineers to confirm the existing hillside soil conditions and make any necessary modifications to the retaining wall design prior to actual installation. Inclinometers are plastic casings (90 ft in depth) installed on the hillside that are located behind the retaining wall location that measure any hillside movement. Measuring any "hillside" creep is necessary as part of the overall installation process to ensure that retaining wall construction isn't affecting slope stability and as well as providing long term maintenance monitoring. Progress continues with the Brushy Creek bridge widening effort as Teichert Construction crews excavated for foundation footings at the south abutment. This operation will be followed with pile driving, anticipated to begin next week (6/28/10).



Looking north at an inclinometer location. Note, the portion of the hillside, leftside in the picture (down slope) will be excavated for the retaining wall itself.


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Inclinometer casing.



Teichert Construction crew excavating the footing for the southern abutment.