LUTON -8
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Weekly redevelopment update
Work continues to dig out the route of the duel carriageway but the depth seems to be far greater than required and is far below the existing road. I suspect a water management solution for heavy rainfall that causes the tunnel to flood will be incorporated under the road.
A water management solution is being installed under the drop off zone as a couple of days ago the excavator in the photo had all but disappeared down this hole that is now being filled with what looks like plastic milk creates.
The fenced off compound on the eastern apron continues to receive its contractors village today. What appears to be grey boxes is actually offices with their windows shuttered up
While on the old easyjet HQ site the contractors building the multistory car park have dug down but on the short term car park side they have raised the ground. A waterproof membrane has been laid and this week work has started installing deep foundations. (photo taken yesterday)
I speculated these evenly spaced holes (around 6 of them) were the footings for the pillars of the terminal extension but today they are all being back filled.
The 4 bus bays under construction were being cemented today with the passenger route being tarmacked.
One of the passenger bridge supports continues to receive concrete but the process of installing re-enforcement rods is a slow time consuming job.
With around half the short term car park now closed, on some days there are next to no spaces available.
A water management solution is being installed under the drop off zone as a couple of days ago the excavator in the photo had all but disappeared down this hole that is now being filled with what looks like plastic milk creates.
The fenced off compound on the eastern apron continues to receive its contractors village today. What appears to be grey boxes is actually offices with their windows shuttered up
While on the old easyjet HQ site the contractors building the multistory car park have dug down but on the short term car park side they have raised the ground. A waterproof membrane has been laid and this week work has started installing deep foundations. (photo taken yesterday)
I speculated these evenly spaced holes (around 6 of them) were the footings for the pillars of the terminal extension but today they are all being back filled.
The 4 bus bays under construction were being cemented today with the passenger route being tarmacked.
One of the passenger bridge supports continues to receive concrete but the process of installing re-enforcement rods is a slow time consuming job.
With around half the short term car park now closed, on some days there are next to no spaces available.
Last edited by LTNman; 29th Jan 2016 at 17:10.
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Progress seems to be going well, especially on the dualling of the road leading to the airport. Am I right in saying that the 4 remaining bus bays will be open soon or is there still a bit of work to do. As always I have a few questions, some you might not b able to answer or they are just stupid questions!
When do you suspect the multi story will be complete?
When will the construction of Pier B be commencing?
Are they currently working on the new entrances into the terminal?
Another interesting weekly update LTNMan, can't wait for the next one already
When do you suspect the multi story will be complete?
When will the construction of Pier B be commencing?
Are they currently working on the new entrances into the terminal?
Another interesting weekly update LTNMan, can't wait for the next one already
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Am I right in saying that the 4 remaining bus bays will be open soon or is there still a bit of work to do.
When do you suspect the multi story will be complete?
When will the construction of Pier B be commencing?
Are they currently working on the new entrances into the terminal?
Last edited by LTNman; 29th Jan 2016 at 17:32.
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No idea but the whole CTA and duel carriageway should be finished later on this year. I think the contract is for 12 months and it has already been running a few months. They probably won't be able to finish off the resurfacing of the short term car park until the multi story car park is finished which might mean the contract runs for over a year. The last job will probably be the remaining 3 coach bays.
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Civils work
Thank you LTN man for the weekly photos. Only downside to them is that this old git of pensionable age with his hard hat, yellow coat and wellies hanging up in my garage is missing out on a share of the action. Anyway let's clarify a few points. The programme dates and durations you refer to were probably those used in the planing application and include design times. The actual construction times will be those stated in the Contract Documents agreed between the Client and the Contractor for each separate contract.The works may not be late.All major projects need surface water storage schemes. They can be the milk crate variety as above, or in the road area large diameter pipes or culverts. The EA LA will have specified a discharge rate into the existing sewers. A hydro brake will be installed at the outlet of the airport system. A couple of minor points. The bus bays are not cemented, they are concreted. The reinforcing rods are reinforcing bars. These bars vary in diameter,from 8mm up to 40 mm. I stand to be corrected on these sizes, memory! Each intersection of bars has to be tied with steel wire and then spacers fixed to give the correct concrete cover.
The idea to move Alpha is quite ingenious and is possible to construct. Main problem would be the traffic management of constructing a bridge over a live traffic route with very little temporary diversion room. But there will be a solution.
I have in the past expressed my doubts on a tunnelled rail link on cost. However to consider a DLR system or tram link is feasible. A ground level link from Parkway into the old Airport Way, making the first existing roundabout into a traffic light junction. There would be room to squeeze an extra two lanes up towards the Ibis. I would then propose a cut and cover tunnel, difficult but possible, under the dual carriageway roundabout and on under the new Alpha bridge into the CTA. These are realistic proposals.
The idea to move Alpha is quite ingenious and is possible to construct. Main problem would be the traffic management of constructing a bridge over a live traffic route with very little temporary diversion room. But there will be a solution.
I have in the past expressed my doubts on a tunnelled rail link on cost. However to consider a DLR system or tram link is feasible. A ground level link from Parkway into the old Airport Way, making the first existing roundabout into a traffic light junction. There would be room to squeeze an extra two lanes up towards the Ibis. I would then propose a cut and cover tunnel, difficult but possible, under the dual carriageway roundabout and on under the new Alpha bridge into the CTA. These are realistic proposals.
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Thanks for the corrections to my statements.
Any ideas why a set of precisely cut square holes maybe around 1.5m deep would be dug where the extension to the terminal is going and then filled without anything being done inside the holes as far as I could see. The holes seem to line up with the pillar locations to the terminal extension but I could be wrong.
Any ideas why a set of precisely cut square holes maybe around 1.5m deep would be dug where the extension to the terminal is going and then filled without anything being done inside the holes as far as I could see. The holes seem to line up with the pillar locations to the terminal extension but I could be wrong.
Last edited by LTNman; 29th Jan 2016 at 21:15.
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My first shot at these holes are that you are correct in the positioning of the terminal columns. The loading on these columns would be quite high necessitating in a piled foundations. Piling people do not like obstructions I.e. Concrete Tarmac in the way of their boring machines. So you predig the pile location with a conventional excavator to remove any obstructions, if any. Once you reach virgin ground the digging stops. The hole is backfilledt so as the piling rig can stand adjacent to the pile position and down goes the auger. The standing costs of a piling rig used to be in the order of £120.00 / hour whilst any obstruction was cleared. Better to clear the pile position in advance.
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I have been thinking that at some point 50m of passenger footbridge will have to be placed over the exit route and 100m of passenger footbridge will have to be placed over the entry and exit route plus the drop off zone. I am assuming when this happens nothing can pass underneath which will leave access to the CTA restricted to buses and coaches. As airports never sleep I wonder how they will tackle the task?
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Without seeing the details of these walkways or their exact location my first thoughts are that they will be of a lightweight steel construction. They will be made in 20/25m lengths in a factory. Brought to site and assembled into the finished unit on the ground. Then with whatever closures, diversions deemed necessary you crane them into position. You would need a 5 hour slot, approx to place one unit. Then with all your well prepared plans in place the day of the crane arrives and so does a westerly wind like our current weather.
Or if a concrete walkway is required you create a temporary working platform with all the safety features and build as normal with the set down area etc below you.
Or if a concrete walkway is required you create a temporary working platform with all the safety features and build as normal with the set down area etc below you.
Paxing All Over The World
LTNman
Well, that is great research which should have been done 20 years ago so that the line could have been done at the same time as the new approach road. THEN they could have done a 'cut and cover' tunnel that would have been sooo much cheaper. But (as I boringly repeat) this is Britain.
Say the station is a mile from the terminal this would make it 5,280ft away, add 5.88% and that would add 310ft or 94metres. So a docklands light railway type train could get the the terminal.
Back to the question do you go over or under taxiway Alpha?
Back to the question do you go over or under taxiway Alpha?
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Just figured out that the 100m bridge has two supports which I have never spotted before. One is between the drop off area and the inbound road while the other sits between the two carriageways. The one in the middle of the duel carriageway has a single vertical support running through the glass. I guess then this means it will be fitted in 2 halves and joined at this point?
The new pier is shown in the background. The roadway looks very nice without the barriers, railings and fencing in place.
The new pier is shown in the background. The roadway looks very nice without the barriers, railings and fencing in place.
Last edited by LTNman; 30th Jan 2016 at 10:48.
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I have been waiting for some pictures of what the internal renovation and the infill would look like. It looks quite spacious in the infill which is good, but it looks quite 'bland' and I agree with your comment on the ceiling. Although anything is better to what the airport is in it's current state. Are there any more photos?
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Transforming LLA
Just scroll down below the video and click on the different headings. There are a few extra external views on this thread but you will have to plod through the pages to find them
Just scroll down below the video and click on the different headings. There are a few extra external views on this thread but you will have to plod through the pages to find them
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A few months in 21 seconds with the timeline ending around last week for the bus station and maybe 2 weeks ago for the multi story car park. The video includes a good view of the existing exit road that is sitting across the middle of what will be the multi story car park. Every time I watch it or freeze the action I see something new.
https://vimeo.com/152978300
Found some build dates.
Main terminal extension
Start date January 2016
Completion date September 2017
New Pier link
Start date February 2016
Completion date October 2016
New Pier
Start date July 2016
Completion date December 2017
Baggage reclaim
Start date August 2016
Completion date December 2017
timeline map found here
http://www.internationalairportrevie...opment-begins/
https://vimeo.com/152978300
Found some build dates.
Main terminal extension
Start date January 2016
Completion date September 2017
New Pier link
Start date February 2016
Completion date October 2016
New Pier
Start date July 2016
Completion date December 2017
Baggage reclaim
Start date August 2016
Completion date December 2017
timeline map found here
http://www.internationalairportrevie...opment-begins/
Last edited by LTNman; 30th Jan 2016 at 18:13.
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If you have 36 minutes to spare this youtube home movie is quite interesting as someone from Amsterdam travels though Luton to catch the La Compagnie flight to New York.
The video seem to have been shot last summer and shows a couple of shortfalls at Luton including the walk via the gate staircase to the aircraft. Since the video was shot the Aspire lounge has been rebuilt and expanded. Also quite a few general passengers seen sitting on the floor due to a lack of seating.
Going back to the rail link to Parkway I suppose there is nothing to stop the existing tunnel sharing the track with the road. Might seem unthinkable but there are many examples where track in embedded into roads on short sections.
The video seem to have been shot last summer and shows a couple of shortfalls at Luton including the walk via the gate staircase to the aircraft. Since the video was shot the Aspire lounge has been rebuilt and expanded. Also quite a few general passengers seen sitting on the floor due to a lack of seating.
Going back to the rail link to Parkway I suppose there is nothing to stop the existing tunnel sharing the track with the road. Might seem unthinkable but there are many examples where track in embedded into roads on short sections.
Last edited by LTNman; 1st Feb 2016 at 15:45.
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Has there been any consideration to a rail tunnel from near the existing parkway station to under the terminal? I know tunneling can be expensive but it would overcome many obstacles such as gradient and current infrastructure and you could use escalators similar to the underground stations. It could even be designed as a loop from the mainline giving through trains in both directions.
