From the latest Construction Alert: some residents to lose water service temporarily; Flatbush Avenue will lose a lane at night

According to the latest two-week Atlantic Yards Construction Alert (below), dated September 25 but distributed yesterday by Empire State Development (after preparation by developer Forest City Ratner), some residents around the 4th Avenue and Flatbush Avenue intersection will lose water service temporarily--but it's unclear how long and how extensive that shutdown will be.

Also, the document indicates that bollard installation--pending Department of Transportation approval (hearing October 5)--is on the way. Also, additional lane restriction on Atlantic Avenue is planned, and from 10 pm to 6 am a lane on Flatbush Avenue will go out of service.

The text below mainly concerns text in the document that differs from the previous document, with the new language in bold.

Water shut down for traffic mitigation site work

• The northbound lanes of 4th Avenue were closed at Atlantic Avenue on July 31, 2011 with temporary MPT (see details below). During the next two-week period work will continue on curb extensions, hydrants catch basins, lights, signals, signs and pavement striping to achieve the closure of the northbound traffic on 4th Avenue, north of Atlantic Avenue. This phase of the work is expected to take approximately 4 to 6 weeks. A water shut down will be required to install parts of the water service facilities. DEP will notify the users impacted by the shut down. The MPT will be modified several times during the course of the work to maintain safe pedestrian passage across the intersection. The details of the MPT have been reviewed by the DOT. The DEP directed the contractor to install a hydrant in lieu of the valve box that was in the original design. Because some of the work is at the edge of the island, a travel lane adjacent to the island must be taken out of service while the work is underway. Therefore all work must be performed at night between 10 PM and 6 AM per DOT stipulations.

Arena bollard installation, site work coming

Once installed in its new configuration, the Flatbush Avenue MPT will allow work to commence on the installation of the Flatbush Avenue façade and the installation of bollards along this same stretch. Part of the overall site work for the arena block, bollard installation, will commence at the intersection of Dean and Flatbush in the area of the southern vents and will continue north along Flatbush, eventually continuing around the entire block. Other work that will be done as part of the site work includes sidewalks, installation of pavers, street furniture, street trees, light and signal poles, way finding signage, hydrants and the canopy to the new subway entrance. Additional detail on the work will be provided as the contractor progresses.

Expanding MPT

Maintenance & Protection of Traffic (MPTs) For Your Safety
• MPT continues to be in place along the southern side of Atlantic Avenue between Flatbush & 6th Avenue. The current configuration of this MPT may be adjusted to accommodate the Stage Three work described in “Replacement of Adjacent Water Mains and other Utility Work”. This adjustment will result in the expansion of the MPT into the southern eastbound lane of Atlantic Avenue. This expanded MPT is in accordance with previously approved MPT.

Losing a lane on Flatbush overnight

Currently, according to the Department of Transportation's web site, there are five travel lanes on Flatbush Avenue at all times, though the configuration shifts:

That will change to eliminate a lane overnight:

• MPT currently installed along Flatbush Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Dean Street will be reconfigured to allow the construction of site work on the Arena Block. MPT will be adjusted during the times outlined below resulting in the following travel lane configuration along Flatbush Avenue:
o 6 AM TO 10 AM there will be three (3) northbound travel lanes and two (2) southbound lanes;
o 10 PM to 6 AM there will be four (4) travel lanes, two (2) northbound and two (2)
southbound;
o All other times of the day, there will be three (3) southbound travel lanes and two (2) northbound.
During overnight work hours (10 PM to 6 AM) the 8’ construction fence will be removed and temporary timber barrier will be shifted out into the curbside travel lane to permit site work. The barrier will be removed and the travel lane restored daily in time for morning rush hour. A pedestrian pathway will be maintained along the east side of Flatbush Avenue. However, during night time work hours, 10 PM to 6 AM, the portion of the pathway between 5th Avenue and Dean Streets will be closed and pedestrian swill be directed by a flagger (provided by contractor) to the west side of Flatbush.

New access from Flatbush Avenue

• Hunt has demobilized the access ramp at Dean Street and Flatbush Avenue. This gate will no longer accept primary deliveries. The main gate and delivery ramp is now and will remain for the future at Pacific Street and 6th Avenue. The access route to the Pacific gate remains posted at the site and is the same as it has been throughout the project. Access is also available via the Atlantic Avenue gates at the Fort Greene intersection, midway between the Ft. Greene and 6th Avenue intersection Flatbush, and limited access for concrete trucks on Flatbush Avenue across from 5th Avenue and at the 6th Avenue intersection.

Arena fireproofing second shift

The spray fireproofing will continue throughout this reporting period. The contractor performing this work will use temporary electric to power their equipment. The spray fire proofer will work a second shift beginning September 12th through September 16th in Quad “C”. The second shift will be continued on an as needed basis beyond that date.

Blocking Atlantic Avenue for subway entrance work

Work outside the Fence
• Permits have been secured for the portions of the street immediately adjacent to the “Tip” of the project area. Concrete plank/decking in the roadway (at the corner of Flatbush and Atlantic) is now complete. The southern eastbound lane of Atlantic Avenue may be taken behind an expanded MPT in the next two weeks in order to facilitate the removal of the planking/decking to be removed and the installation of temporary roadway restoration. This will then permit the next phase of the water main installation to take place which is scheduled for the fall/winter. This expanded MPT has been approved by DOT Barricades have now been installed at the southern end of the IRT platforms as approved by NYCT.

Carlton Avenue Bridge progress

• New MPT has been put in place for the south abutment soil excavation from Pacific Street, and excavation in underway. This work will continue during this reporting period, and will be followed by forming and pouring the foundation for the South Abutment located in Block 1120.Posillico/Tully will start the installation of the 30 mini-piles required to be installed to support the new north abutment.

A water main repair needed

During this reporting period the Contractor will be continuing the work on taps into the water and sewer mains on Dean Street. The Flatbush taps were completed and inspected by DEP. The roadways were backfilled. Work began on the Dean Street taps during the prior reporting period and exposed a broken water connection to a former business on the south side of Dean Street. Discussions are underway with DEP on how the repair should be done. The excavation work at Dean Street required the removal of approximately 40’ to 60’ of the 16 foot fence on Dean Street. An 8’ tall barrier consisting of plywood on Jersey barrier was installed to replace the 16’ fence and to serve as the construction fence during the work. The contractor will move the barrier out of the way when trenching occurs in the immediate area and will plate over and replace the barrier on a daily basis. Backfill and pavement restoration will be performed after all DEP inspections are complete. All of the water and sewer work in this area must be performed at night between 10 PM and 6 AM per DOT stipulations.

Planned demolition not needed

• It was determined that the walls behind 585 Dean Street do not need to be demolished to accommodate the contractor’s requirements and will remain in place at this time.

After-hours work

All the after-hours work had been previously announced, but it's worth a reminder:

Please Be Advised of Anticipated Nighttime & Weekend Work
During this reporting period the following work will be performed either at night or during the weekend as noted. All work will be done pursuant to approved permits:
• Long Island Rail Road/Vanderbilt Yard/ Carlton Avenue Bridge:
o Construction hours are 6am – 4:30pm.
o Construction work will take place on Saturdays during the hours of 7am – 5:30pm for a period of at least three months. Saturday work is expected to continue for this reporting period.
o Beginning on Sunday, September 18, 2011, construction work will take place on Sundays during the hours of 8:00 AM – 4:30PM for a period of at least three months. The work being performed will be confined to two areas:
 The LIRR car shop for the installation of mini piles and structural support system;
 The area of the former Northeast Gas Station (Block 1121, lot 42) for installation of lagging and tiebacks for the support of excavation.
• Arena Site:
o Arena weekend work will be scheduled no later than close of business on the preceding Thursday, where make-up work due to weather or other delays makes it necessary. Saturday work is expected to continue for this reporting period.
o Subject to receipt of permits, a second shift may be continued throughout this reporting period, from 3 – 11 PM, Monday-Friday only. Also subject to receipt of permits, a third shift may be instituted during this reporting period, from 11 PM – 7 AM, Monday –Friday only.
o Hunt has requested a permit to allow for deliveries from 6 AM to 7 AM to the Arena site from the dispatch center. This work allows for an additional hour of deliveries to take place outside the neighborhood peak traffic patterns and reduce congestion and interference with the local traffic. The permit has been issued and is reviewed/re-authorized on a weekly basis. The intention is to continue to permit deliveries during this timeframe through to completion of the Arena.
o The Developer has been requested to advise ESDC and STV of what contractors will be working over the weekend and what they will be working on. The second shift arena contractors are noted within the arena summary above.
• NYC Transit Improvements:
o Temporary concrete road decking is substantially complete, however, in the event there is a need to do any related work, such work will be performed at night per DOT regulations.
Traffic will be restored every morning according to DOT stipulations.
Work related to of the BMT structure and below grade concrete, steel and MEP work may be conducted on Saturdays, October 1st and October 8th during this reporting period.
• Block 1129 – staging area:
o Contractors conducting night work may have cause to enter and exit this area as it serves as a staging and material/equipment storage area.
• Off-Site Mitigation work:
o Work taking place at Pacific/Flatbush and 4th/Pacific will be done during the overnight pursuant to DOT permits. Work will be concluded by 6 AM so that related MPT is removed for the morning rush hour
During the course of work, conditions may be encountered at the site which may warrant the need for
night and/or weekend work. Work will be done pursuant to approved permits.

Atlantic Yards Construction Alert 9-26-2011