Visiting the intestines of a city
May 19, 2016 16:54:08 GMT
Post by Deleted on May 19, 2016 16:54:08 GMT
This morning I had an appointment to see the site of a new subway extension in Paris. The general public has very little access to such things, so I had reserved a few months in advance as groups are limited to 10 people. For certain other visits, the limit is 5 people. I therefore felt a bit privileged because it is quite difficult to snag such a thing in a metropolitan area of more than 10 million. One thing that I approved of was that the fee for the visit was symbolic -- just 5 euros -- because the organizers want the experience to be accessible to everybody, no matter what their income.
I would have happily gone to see any subway line, but it just so happens that the line in question is the one I use every day -- metro line 12. Going north, the line is being extended 3 stations. The first station already opened in 2012. The next two stations have faced multiple technical problems, so the opening went from 2016 to 2017 and now it is relatively certain that the next two stations will not open until the end of 2019. This is because of so much stuff underground -- sewers, electrical cables, telephone cables, gas lines, water lines, optic fibers... Everybody has to negotiate compensation, organise when their work will be done (never at the same time as the other people) and then face their own technical constraints. One really has to admire the engineers who keep their cool when everybody says why they can't do what is being requested.
Nevertheless, the work is very much advanced -- for example, the entire tunnel has been completed all the way to the end. That's because it is below all of the problems. Now the stations have to be built, lifts, escalators, stairs, all through the spaghetti of pre-existing problems.
There are information panels along the Canal Saint Denis which our guide explained to us. The fact that the metro passes under the canal was a huge ecological bonus. The RATP (metro authority) was able to set up a cement plant right next to their site and bring in all of the construction material by barge from Le Havre. All of the construction debris was taken away by other barges which spared the area from thousands and thousands of trucks hauling things through the middle of the city. Most of the sites for the current subway projects that will cost billions all through the metropolitan area over the next 20 years will not be this lucky.
I would have happily gone to see any subway line, but it just so happens that the line in question is the one I use every day -- metro line 12. Going north, the line is being extended 3 stations. The first station already opened in 2012. The next two stations have faced multiple technical problems, so the opening went from 2016 to 2017 and now it is relatively certain that the next two stations will not open until the end of 2019. This is because of so much stuff underground -- sewers, electrical cables, telephone cables, gas lines, water lines, optic fibers... Everybody has to negotiate compensation, organise when their work will be done (never at the same time as the other people) and then face their own technical constraints. One really has to admire the engineers who keep their cool when everybody says why they can't do what is being requested.
Nevertheless, the work is very much advanced -- for example, the entire tunnel has been completed all the way to the end. That's because it is below all of the problems. Now the stations have to be built, lifts, escalators, stairs, all through the spaghetti of pre-existing problems.
The rendezvous point was across from this sign.
imageshack.com/a/img924/585/KNBGwr.jpg
We all put on rubber boots, orange vests and hard hats. In the end, there were only 6 in the group due to 4 no-shows. There were also our guide and our security caboose.
imageshack.com/a/img921/7361/rocqGa.jpg
The starting point was right next to the future Aimé Césaire station which has not been covered over yet.
imageshack.com/a/img922/3348/jGDvFZ.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img921/9827/7AHTKK.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img924/585/KNBGwr.jpg
We all put on rubber boots, orange vests and hard hats. In the end, there were only 6 in the group due to 4 no-shows. There were also our guide and our security caboose.
imageshack.com/a/img921/7361/rocqGa.jpg
The starting point was right next to the future Aimé Césaire station which has not been covered over yet.
imageshack.com/a/img922/3348/jGDvFZ.jpg
imageshack.com/a/img921/9827/7AHTKK.jpg
There are information panels along the Canal Saint Denis which our guide explained to us. The fact that the metro passes under the canal was a huge ecological bonus. The RATP (metro authority) was able to set up a cement plant right next to their site and bring in all of the construction material by barge from Le Havre. All of the construction debris was taken away by other barges which spared the area from thousands and thousands of trucks hauling things through the middle of the city. Most of the sites for the current subway projects that will cost billions all through the metropolitan area over the next 20 years will not be this lucky.
These tanks were installed to store the special mud that is needed to fill cavities while concrete is being poured. They are currently being dismantled because their job is finished.
imageshack.com/a/img921/9774/csHNnk.jpg
Then we took the lift down to the depths of the earth. The thing that looks like a gumball machine is actually an earplug distributor.
imageshack.com/a/img923/3145/rpGpaI.jpg
Now we were down in the tunnel.
imageshack.com/a/img921/9774/csHNnk.jpg
Then we took the lift down to the depths of the earth. The thing that looks like a gumball machine is actually an earplug distributor.
imageshack.com/a/img923/3145/rpGpaI.jpg
Now we were down in the tunnel.
