 The Marvels of Mechanical and Electrical Vault Construction
If you’ve been reading our updates these past few years, you’ve likely come across the phrase “mechanical and electrical vaults”. Mechanical and electrical vaults are underground spaces designed for holding complex machinery, equipment, and technical systems. If you’ve been wondering what the heck they are, and how our team builds them and brings them to life, it’s your lucky day! To build these underground structures, our team has to do it piece by piece, with a lot of concrete. Seems complicated, right?
Our amazing and brilliant team at Lane Construction and Prospect Construction came up with the helpful diagram below, complete with easy-to-follow instructions. The diagram not only showcases the complicated design, but also outlines the specific sequence for building floors, walls, and ceilings using concrete.
Now the burning question: Does the assembly process resemble Lego instructions? Check out the diagram below to see what you think! The answer seems to be subjective with our younger community members, but we think it’s a delightful mix of creativity and precision in the world of construction.
 Diagram of the concrete pour sequence and process for the mechanical and electrical vault in Fremont.
We made the Seattle Channel’s Most Memorable Videos of 2023!
Check out our “boring story” and enjoy the other stories featured on their list: https://take21.seattlechannel.org/2023/12/14/most-memorable-videos-of-2023/
Visit our project website to learn more about the project and check out our Flickr albums for recent construction photos.
Ballard
Crews continue to dismantle, clean, and remove the equipment that was needed to build the tunnel.
You should anticipate:
- Nighttime truck movements may be necessary to remove large equipment over the next few months
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Crews continue working two shifts, 20 hours a day, five days a week. Some work may occur on Saturdays.
East Ballard
Crews are finishing the replacement of a segment of water main in NW 45th St between 11th Ave NW and 9th Ave NW. 11th Ave NW has opened back up to two lanes of traffic in each direction.
You should anticipate:
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Fremont
Crews continue building the permanent structure inside the shaft and installing conveyance pipes that connect to the storage tunnel. They also continue building the large, underground mechanical and electrical vault. For those that are following along with our feature story, they are approximately at step 14.
Local closures and detours:
- Leary Way NW has opened back up to two lanes of traffic in each direction
- On 2nd Ave NW, between Leary Way NW and NW Canal St, the street remains closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic through mid-2024
- NW Canal St is open to two-way traffic during this closure
- NW 36th St, between Leary Way NW and 3rd Ave NW, remains closed through mid-2024
- Pedestrian detours are in place on Leary Way NW; please follow all detour guidance
You should anticipate:
- Truck traffic on Leary Way NW as trucks bring materials and equipment to and from the site
- Concrete trucks entering and leaving the site
- Fans running during work hours to provide fresh air to crews working in the shaft
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm; and some Saturdays from 9 am to 6 pm.
Wallingford
Crews have started to excavate pits to install casing pipe for the conveyance pipe in the intersection of Stone Way N and N 35th St. Another crew is installing the segment of conveyance pipe between Interlake Ave N and the Wallingford shaft site. Crews also continue to build the permanent walls inside the shaft and the above-ground electrical building.
We understand that traffic is a challenge in this area. We continue to keep an eye on neighborhood impacts and add new signage for detours and safe access to businesses. Businesses are open and ready to serve the community. Please support local businesses and follow all detour signage and safety directions when traveling through the work area.
The pedestrian crossing on the south side of the intersection of Stone Way N and N 35th St is now closed. Pedestrians need to follow the approved detour route and cross Stone Way N at N 34th St.
See our detour maps for cyclists and pedestrians.
N 35th St closure vehicle detour:
- Check out the vehicle detour map
- Traffic is detoured via N 40th St and Wallingford Ave N, and via Woodland Park Ave N and N 34th St
- The all-way stops remain in place at Woodland Park Ave N at both N 35th St and N 34th St, and at Wallingford Ave N and N 35th St
- Stone Way N between N 34th St and N 35th St remains closed to vehicles and bicycles
- Please adhere to Road Closed, Local Access Only, and Traffic Revision Ahead signage and follow marked detour routes
N 35th St closure bicycle detour
- Check out the bicycle and pedestrian detour map
- Bicyclists are detoured to the west on N 35th St and Woodland Park Ave N
- Access to the Burke Gilman Trail is on N 34th St at Stone Way N and at Troll Ave N
- Please dismount and walk if you use the sidewalk
You should anticipate:
- N 35th St between Stone Way N and Interlake Ave N and the intersection of N 35th St and Stone Way N are closed
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Vibrations typical of a construction site
- Truck traffic from the North Transfer Station hauling waste away from the station between 5:30 pm and 7:30 am, 7 days a week. Flaggers will be on N 34th St from 6 am to 8 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm to help control traffic and direct trucks out of the gate.
- Road and periodic sidewalk closures
- Temporary bus stops on Woodland Park Ave N are relocated; Metro bus routes 31, 32, and northbound 62 detoured. Southbound bus route 62 is unchanged. Please view service advisories on King County Metro’s website.
Regular work hours at the Wallingford shaft site will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm. Crews also work a second shift in the tunnel and there will be occasional surface work at the shaft site.
Regular work hours on N 35th St and Stone Way N will be Monday through Friday, 7 am to 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur periodically.
North Transfer Station hauling hours reminder
A reminder that at the North Transfer Station, crews will continue temporarily hauling waste away from the south side of the station on N 34th St, between 5:30 pm and 7:30 am, 7 days a week. Flaggers are staged at key intersections to help control traffic so trucks can make turns. North Transfer Station operation hours will remain the same.
Queen Anne
Crews continue to remove the temporary shoring around the top perimeter of the shaft and install other utilities at the site.
Local closures and detours:
- Localized Ship Canal Trail detour at least through mid-2024 (see map). Please continue to remain alert when moving through this area.
- West Ewing Mini Park parking closure through mid-2024
You should anticipate:
- Trucks coming in and out of the site
- Heavy equipment in the area
- Noise and vibrations typical of a construction site
Regular work hours will be Monday through Friday, from 7 am to 6 pm. Night and weekend work may occur.
Contact Us
Please email SPU_ShipCanalProject@seattle.gov with questions or comments or call our hotline at (206) 701-0233. You can also find information online at spushipcanal.participate.online.
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