Sound Curtains Being Installed Around BDPL3&4 Work Area

Residents who live near the project in Fremont are benefiting from new and innovative sound-absorbing material to reduce construction noise. Recently, the SFPUC’s environmental team discovered these recycled polymer "sound curtains" as an alternative to the usual steel-and plywood sound walls used on other projects.

This material absorbs airborne noise and converts it to vibration and then the energy dissipates off as heat. It comes in rolls and can easily be attached to chain-link fence, plywood and other surfaces. This sound-absorbing material was installed along the pipeline right of way near residences where construction activities are taking place.

Measurements taken by the environmental inspectors at a pilot site confirmed that these “curtains” significantly decrease the sound volume of the construction activities for the nearby residents. Monitoring efforts will continue throughout construction as the environmental team works to ensure that the project move forward while minimizing impacts to air, water, wildlife, and the surrounding neighbors. 

The sound curtains are currently up near homes immediately adjacent to our work area at Tissiack Way in Fremont.

Late Night Work Required to Install Water Line for Uninterrupted Service

A late night I-680 on-ramp closure is scheduled for next week to install a temporary water line. This installation will ensure that residents in the area continue to receive an uninterrupted water supply throughout construction.  

On Tuesday, Jan. 22 (after the Martin Luther King Holiday on Monday, Jan. 21), the I-680 on-ramp at eastbound Mission Blvd., will be closed starting at midnight and will reopen at 5 a.m. This timeframe has been identified to ensure that motorists are able to access the freeway before the heavy commute times.

Work will take place near the highlighted area above.

Why Night Time Work?

Much of the regional water delivery pipeline in need of replacement is located directly under the I-680 freeway and the on/off-ramps off Mission Blvd. In order to access this pipeline, a phased traffic handling plan will be in place. This overnight on-ramp closure is the first traffic diversion that this project will require along this busy traffic corridor.

The SFPUC, Caltrans and other governmental agencies have been working with the contractor on this phased traffic approach plan, and Caltrans has permitted this work. 

Detour Information For This Work:

To detour, use Warm Springs Blvd. (North), and make a right at Auto Mall Parkway to merge onto the I-680 North.

 

This closure is necessary to complete the temporary water line installation work  to ensure water supply to the local area. All work that takes place along the I-680 freeway or on the on/off-ramps are permitted by Caltrans. 

What To Expect?
This night time work will involve some road excavation on the on-ramp, so crews can install the temporary water line. Truck traffic and noise from machinery are expected.

 

Homeowners are encouraged to call our 24-hour answering service for concerns regarding this overnight work at 866-973-1476.

What to Expect in 2013

The SFPUC construction management team and Rados strive to be a good neighbor to the Fremont residents who live nearby the Seismic Upgrade of BDPL3&4 Project. In particular, the environmental team and contractor are working hard to ensure that concerns surrounding dust control and noise are properly mitigated.

Nearby neighbors may already notice that sound walls and environmental protective fencing have gone up at the perimeter of the work area. Noise walls were also installed to isolate noise within the work area. The contractor will continue to abide by the City of Fremont’s local noise ordinance.

To ensure that dust is controlled, the environmental team and the contractor work together to assure that stockpiles are covered with plastic and active areas are watered to suppress dust in active areas.

To ensure dust control measures are met, stockpiles are covered with plastic tarps and weighed down with sand bags. These piles are also watered to minimize dust.

It is also imperative that the contractor meet certain erosion and sediment best management practices to protect the nearby creeks and the city’s storm drains. For example, the environmental team monitors the contractor to ensure the implementation of the project’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan that requires storm drains and drainage outlets to be protected. In addition, track-out controls are in place, such as the installation of rock placed at construction entrances and exits. Finally, sweeping of the roadways take place regularly.

Track-out controls limit dust-related concerns. An example of a track-out control is the installation of rock that is laid at the entries and exits of each work area. This rock limits the amount of dust kicked up by trucks.

Protecting the Natural Habitat

The SFPUC Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) environmental commitment is to continue the delivery of high quality water to its 2.6-million Bay Area customers while ensuring the protection of the environment and stewardship to our natural resources.

From the beginning, the SFPUC has been committed to thoroughly assessing and mitigating environmental impacts WSIP construction activities may create. The WSIP is investing more than$250 million in various environmental initiatives and resources. These efforts include thorough reviews of all potential impacts at both the program and project levels, environmental permits from local, state and federal resource agencies, and field mitigation and compliance monitoring during construction.

For this project specifically, the environmental team has been working closely with the contractor to ensure the protection of species such as the California Red-legged Frog.

The California Red-legged Frog is a federally listed threatened species of the United States and is protected by law.

To ensure the protection of endangered species, protective exclusion fencing has been installed around the perimeter of our work areas to keep protected species like this one out of the work area. In addition, environmental inspectors and biologists monitor the construction sites to safeguard the area and preserve habitat where possible.

Typically, fencing is often orange, diamond-shaped and transparent. For this project specifically, black tarp-like fencing has been installed to keep wildlife outside of the work area.

Happy Holidays!

In November, the BDPL3&4 team completed external surveys outside of homes in Fremont along the SFPUC’s Right Of Way (ROW). These surveys will help the SFPUC construction management team have documentation of the existing conditions of private and public property areas prior to the start of the major construction activities.

Over the last few weeks, the contractor and the SFPUC construction management team have been working closely with Caltrans and other local government entities on a phased traffic management plan for Mission Blvd. Before pipeline construction work begins, these agencies must prepare a phased plan that includes detours, lane closure(s) and traffic considerations needed for the I-680 onramp and offramp access.

Residents and motorists of the I-680/Mission Blvd. intersection are encouraged to register their email addresses or by following us on Twitter at @I680H2OPipeWork to receive updates on detours, closures or night time work activities.

Feel free to forward our blog and Twitter information to your neighbors and friends. We will be posting important traffic and project updates as the work progresses early next year.

The BDPL3&4 team wishes you and your loved ones a happy and safe holiday season! See you in 2013!

In case you missed our open house...

On behalf of the entire SFPUC construction management team, we would like to thank you for attending our recent open house event to learn more about the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 (BDPL3&4) Project in Fremont. It was a pleasure to meet all of you and we enjoyed discussing the project and answering your questions about this upcoming work. Local residents, businesses, government agencies and even a high school science class attended our open house. We hope you all gained more knowledge about this project and the overall Hetch Hetchy Water System Improvement Program!

To better visualize the seismic improvements that will be made to the regional water delivery pipeline, please view our short video on the engineering that will be undertaken to construct this pipeline along the Hayward Fault. Click on the video icon at the end of this email.

Nearly 20 local residents attended the open house to learn more about this important regional project!

Ms. Lisa Ishimine and her science class at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont attended the open house. Approximately 25 students earned extra credit for attending. The idea behind their participation was to allow Ms. Ishimine's students to become engaged in a public works project in their community and to learn about how their water system works.

View our video on the seismic upgrade improvements to the BDPL Nos. 3 & 4 project at Hayward Fault:  

Learn about upcoming construction in your neighborhood!

Before construction begins in mid-November, please join us on Thursday, Nov. 1 to learn more about the Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline Nos. 3 and 4 (BDPL3&4) Project in Fremont. The project team will be on hand to discuss the benefits and potential impacts of this pipeline upgrade work. Come by anytime between 3 and 4:30 p.m. to ask questions, review informational materials and to find out more about this important project! For more details, go to www.sfwater.org/seismicupgrade.

Event Details
What: Learn about the upcoming BDPL3&4 Seismic Upgrade Project
When: Thursday, Nov.1, 2012
Time: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Intersection of Tissiack Way & Nugget Place in Fremont
Light refreshments will be served.

For more information, please call 415.551.4675 or RSVP by emailing djaimes@sfwater.org.

Event Map