ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[KevinL]

Just up the road at KCI, the steps are looking better and better:

[Canard]

Thanks for the photos from midtown, Kevin!

I always find that it is an area that is difficult to get to (parking really) to get photos. The scope of work at the school certainly is impressive. Is it open during all of this (ie, kids are in class)?

[KevinL]

The school is certainly open, but this is far from the building's only door. As an alumnus I can assure you there are many ways in that do not require access from King.

[Canard]

Oh, I didn't doubt that, it just looks... shuttered. The giant plywood panels covering the front don't help. I guess, admittedly, I'm never near it during the weekday when it would be bustling with activity.

[Canard]

Ken Seiling just tweeted a pic of the start of the deck pour!

https://twitter.com/kenseiling/status/70...1021376512

[tomh009]

Just up the road at KCI, the steps are looking better and better:

I hope they don't leave the steps as raw concrete -- unless we are seeing a comeback for brutalism!

[GtwoK]

Drove through most of the Ion corridor at dusk just now! First time in a long time, not since the beginning of Winter. Very impressive seeing everything come along. Was surprised to see crews were working still at 7 on a Saturday night, and not just at the Dome pour either.

Noticed that despite embedded track having being poured almost up to Borden, and most of it before that having cured already, the track across Gaukel STILL is being heated. Is there a reason track crossing the road is taking so much longer than the track in front of the terminal?

Rebar for track has been laid on Charles starting at Benton.

All Traffic light poles are in at Cedar, and Cameron.




A single catenary pole was up at Stirling

Surprised to see no real movement on the embedded track on Borden. Some more placed, but not near pouring yet.

King past Wellington is looking very nice. Utility poles almost all complete.

Same with in front of GRH. Nice to see all traffic light poles in at the Pine and GRH entrance intersections!

Nothing of note North of John, seems. Didn't seem like any work has been done on the track in front of PI recently. They're getting close to Erb though, they must need to shut that down for utility relocation soon, don't they? If it's anything like Caroline, it'll take months. Surprised it hasn't been started yet.

[DKsan]

Utility relocation for the intersection? There isn't any track going in on Erb, that was changed out of the plan years ago.

[KevinL]

Utility relocation for the intersection? There isn't any track going in on Erb, that was changed out of the plan years ago.

The line has to cross Erb.

[Square]

The January 8th Update says the Erb/Caroline work will restart in the Spring. "◦Erb/Caroline is open. In the spring, crews will return to the area to complete the necessary relocation and upgrading of underground utilities, install the LRT track and build the rest of the ION infrastructure (i.e. poles and the overhead catenary system that powers the train)"

[Canard]

TPSS install happening now!

   

[Canard]

Argh, this is killing me that I can't be there, but not only did the TPSS get installed, they're actually laying track today and the first permanent track switch just went in today!!

https://twitter.com/tomjgalloway14/statu...6667814913

[rangersfan]

In the model it is interesting to see the potential of what could be in some of those spots, where as in the one picture related to the Victoria Park stop, there is no sign of City Centre phase 2.

[panamaniac]

In the model it is interesting to see the potential of what could be in some of those spots, where as in the one picture related to the Victoria Park stop, there is no sign of City Centre phase 2.

I think the brief for the concepts was to project out only twenty years, which would explain that......

[rangersfan]

I forget if this has ever been brought up but is track for Ion being equipped with the catenary-free power buried loops? Is this technology inferior in performance? You would think if the performance was equal aesthetically the catenary free option would be preferred.