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Post by cambridgegal on May 27, 2008 14:41:49 GMT -6
I arrived home (next to the AME site) and none of the heavy equipment is pushing dirt around. No one is at the site. I wonder what's happening now?  After the past 3 weeks, it is nice to have a reprieve from all the noise and dust. We can't sit outside or have the doors/windows open. |
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Post by Arch on May 27, 2008 14:53:58 GMT -6
Possible that it was just too windy to do whatever they were scheduled to do today?
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Post by sashimi on May 27, 2008 14:55:58 GMT -6
Too windy to push dirt from one side of the field to the other??
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Post by Arch on May 27, 2008 14:59:46 GMT -6
Too windy to push dirt from one side of the field to the other?? I don't know the parameters within which they can operate, therefore, my question. |
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Post by sashimi on May 27, 2008 15:07:41 GMT -6
I was being sarcastic (not directed at you Arch).
I really do think that they have not been working as efficiently as possible, and probably expected there would be some resolution on Friday (so that they could start some real work this week as opposed to just moving dirt around). I hear the Judge perhaps was not impressed with the fact that the District was proceeding full speed ahead despite the NSFOC lawsuit, so perhaps they need to figure out what visual busy work they can do for the next few days.
Or perhaps it was really too windy for the large equipment to operate safely.
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Post by specailneedsmom on May 27, 2008 15:56:19 GMT -6
I don't think I would say the judge was not impressed, but I think he felt that that would not be part of his decision making process since they were aware when they started construction that suits were pending.
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Post by Arch on May 27, 2008 15:58:44 GMT -6
I don't think I would say the judge was not impressed, but I think he felt that that would not be part of his decision making process since they were aware when they started construction that suits were pending. If their strategy had this as any part of it (sympathy by the courts due to having started already) then they are dead in the water because most likely everything else hinged upon that. Hello Lynch Pin. |
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Post by slp on May 27, 2008 16:01:43 GMT -6
maybe too wet from all the rain over the weekend? just a guess.
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Post by Arch on May 27, 2008 16:08:14 GMT -6
maybe too wet from all the rain over the weekend? just a guess. I wonder what it's doing to the soil around the pipes now that they're in the process of mucking with the relief of the land. A field of water isn't light. Does the land slope away from both sides of the pipes to run water away from them? |
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Post by cambridgegal on May 27, 2008 16:29:24 GMT -6
There's a few areas of pooled water (OK, one looks almost like a lake now) but that doesn't prevent them from working on the site. The water is not adjacent to the pipelines. That area is built up and isn't affected any more than usual by the rain.
Last week, Cambridge homeowners met with 204 reps and the city of Aurora to address homeowner concerns about the site. At the meeting, it was stated that some of the ground where the foundation for the building will go is unstable or somehow not adequate and that is what is currently being addressed by operations going on now.
Last week, it looked as though they were excavating the clay (much of the topsoil from the site has been removed already) from under the front part of the building, bringing it to behind the first 10 houses on Bennett, then disking it for HOURS to help it dry out, and then returning in to where it was taken from. I don't know that much about construction, but it made no sense to me. the noise of the equipment tracking back and forth for hours each day is nerve racking to say the least. No lie, there was something passing the house every 20 seconds.
In addition, they are not supposed to start before 7am or continue past 6pm, and they fudged that every day at least 10 minutes every time.
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Post by southsidemom on May 27, 2008 16:38:59 GMT -6
I don't think I would say the judge was not impressed, but I think he felt that that would not be part of his decision making process since they were aware when they started construction that suits were pending. Judge or no judge, one would have to wonder how fiscally responsible a group is that is told they will know if the case will be dismissed in less than a week but they just can't hold up until they know district's fate. How stupid can one be.....oh yeah, it is only money! |
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Post by rj on May 27, 2008 16:50:08 GMT -6
The building footings, piers for the steel columns and the floor must be set on soil that tests out at 98% compaction. If the virgin clay isn't at that level, then it must be removed , replaced in layers and compacted till that number is reached. The disking is to help dry the clay out, if it is too wet it won't reach maximum compaction, nor will it if it is too dry. There is a fine line.
Most likely the reason for inactivity of late is the rain, as trying to reach 98% compaction is nearly impossible with wet clay. That most likely is why they removed the clay to another location to disk it, so they could get back to the level that is dry so they can start putting layers in and compacting it again.
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Post by Arch on May 27, 2008 17:39:22 GMT -6
rj, You obviously sound like you have knowledge of the field. I heard a story that always intrigued me but never heard a definitive to what happened. It has to do with when they built the Lucent East building. Someone once told me the original foundation disappeared over a weekend (or some period of time) because the soil (or bedrock) work was improper or incorrectly done. Did this really happen? What was the problem there and can a similar sort of thing happen at AME?
Disappeared = sunk
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Post by rj on May 27, 2008 18:06:26 GMT -6
I have never heard the disappearing foundation at Lucent before. Even if the base were not up to compaction specs, there is no way it would sink that fast, unless it was built on quicksand. It is possible that the foundation could settle over time, but not to the point of disappearing. I also don't think you need to worry about MV sinking. Having worked on projects of that size, including schools, the testing service doesn't let substandard compaction slide by, nor is the grading company willing to be responsible for a huge claim in the future due to shoddy work. Read Excavating has been around since the early 70's, they are not some fly by night company that comes in does poor work and disappears. www.readexcavating.com/ As I stated before, it is SOP to remove unsuitable clay and replace it with better material due to excessive rains to reach ultimate compaction. This shows that they are doing the job the right way, and, besides, the testing company has the final say whether compaction is at the required spec which eliminates the possibility of the grading contractor taking short cuts. |
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Post by slp on Sept 12, 2008 6:50:04 GMT -6
According to the green board there is now a wall up at the Metea site.
I hope they really start cranking now. I'm no construction expert, but I just cannot imagine having a school ready for kids to attend within less than a year.
Don't they have to have the entire exterior done before the nasty winter begins? My guess is that they will hope to complete the exterior walls before winter and then work on the inside during the winter and spring months. Is that their plan?
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