WorldWide Drilling Resource

37 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DECEMBER 2017 Constructing a Subway in San Francisco Compiled by Caleb Whitaker Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Deep below the streets of San Francisco, workers have been busy constructing the Central Subway. The subway, in the works since 2000, is an exten- sion of the T-Third Muni Metro line which will con- nect the Caltrain station at Fourth and King streets to Chinatown. The subway is projected to carry 35,000 riders per day by 2030. The rail line scheduled to open in 2019, has Municipal Transportation Agency officials believing the line will deliver reliable transit to those currently lacking services in the north- eastern section of the city, especially Chinatown, which has the largest transit- dependent population in the city. “The Central subway will not only improve transportation with San Francisco, but it will also enhance connections to the regional and statewide transit network,” said Ed Reiskin, director of transportation for the agency. Construction crews started building the staging area on Fourth Street beneath the Interstate 80 skyway, where two tunnel boring machines will begin excavating the nearly two-mile subway to Chinatown as debris is hauled out. Crews are also working on three subterranean subway stations, which will become the future Yerba Buena / Moscone, Union Square / Market Street, and Chinatown stations. Construction work involves a drill rig stationed at the cross-cut entrance under Chinatown, which has multiple arms. Workers are needed to drill pilot holes into exterior walls, and mechanics are on-site to work on equipment such as a jackham- mer fitted to a large excavator. Large excavators are f i tted wi th grinding wheels to excavate sections of the sta- tion, while smaller excavators are used to help grade the bottom of the station box after debris is cleared. Material removed from underneath Chinatown during construction will be dumped at the surface to be loaded on a waiting truck and removed from the site. Although the subway wi l l end in Chinatown, plans were approved years ago which allows drilling to continue to North Beach where a hole will be dug, making it much easier for the machines to be removed, while also giving the subway a head start on future exten- sions to North Beach and Fisherman’s Warf. Open the Doorway to all the Event Photos during NDA 2017. To see all the photos from this event, go to www.worldwidedrillingresource.com or click here. Feel free to download at will and print the photo(s) of your choice. Compliments of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Photos are copyrighted and released for personal use only - no commercial use permitted. Hydraulic-Pneumatic tools in stock. Sizes 1” to 20”. SALE Mention this ad and receive sales discount. Model 113HD All Hydraulic Sizes 1"-13" 2547 W Success Way Emmett, ID 83617 (208) 365-3492 • Fax: (208) 365-3792 rauchmfg.com rauchmfg@frontiernet.net The deadline for the February issue is almost here! Space Reservation: December 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: January 1 st