Almost done on the Pipeline! #11

Well, they are almost done with the construction part of the work on the pipeline by mom's house! This job isn't going to be completely finished for a while yet. 

I added the tractor photo from the last post because this is sort of ironic. Remember I had mentioned how mom's landline hadn't been disrupted in all of the work done? Well, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend, the tractor came past to smooth out everything and snicked mom's landline in half. (it wasn't buried very far under the ground and it was still marked, it was just an ironic accident) Well, because I  know pay GCI for the landline and the actual old line is owned by ACS, no one was slated to fix it. So, Peak came out to bandage it for the duration. 

Dan called in a few guys on a holiday weekend. I'm so grateful for them! 

Justin found the first half, the rest was dug up and thankfully still intact. So, Justin put it all together and it is now marked with a slight depression and two sticks in the soft soil to show where the mend is. Now, we need to wait for ACS to come out and completely fix it. 

The first Saturday in June was tidy up the Pipeline day. Tractors and Peak employees worked hard to erase the marks of man and move the last of the equipment further down the road. The entire line is 8 miles. I've not gone to the other end to see how close they are to finishing. I don't often drive on Island Lake, but since I started this series of posts over there, I reckon I should wander that way and complete the saga! 

I'm going to miss this. It has been an interesting journey to follow. I've met some nice people and learned a great deal about something that is literally in my backyard! I did notice the robin in the nest near where they tore up the road has her eggs hatched now and the moose are criss crossing the road easier. I'm also glad the line is laid for the ducks. About the time we have mid sized ducklings, usually one family walks down the road to the neighbor's lake. Make way for Ducklings doesn't just happen in busy cities, it happens out in the wilderness, too! 

Links to the other pipeline posts here. Inside each post are links to the other posts. Kind of like an onion, only no tears. 

The middle of a busy week! Pipeline construction #10

This week of May so much got done, it was hard to keep up! After the work was done one of the nights, I went out to see what had been done. This was just after the road had been dug up and put back together. Each side of the road was still open, hence the orange fencing. 

 The large tractor was following behind to bury the pipe. Some parts were still exposed.

 The yellow caution tape was laid down above where the pipe is so if anyone digs in that spot and finds the tape, they'll know something is directly underneath! So, in addition to the GPS markers on each weld, the well marked areas saying 'pipeline buried here', they also have a warning buried as well.

I went up the road a bit on the original pipeline road to Claire where the work was now taking place. 

 Looking down towards mom's driveway from Claire Road.

 This is a view of the Pipeline on the other side of Lamplight. With people already using it for their ATV fun!

 This tractor is the last thing that goes past. It smooths over the leftover mounds of soil and makes it all pretty.

Below the tractor is scooping the sandy soil into the ditch. It is a progression of big rigs and responsible people! 

In the photo below, the tractor had not quite reached mom's yet. 

Link to post #9 

Nikiski Pipeline Construction #9

I'm about two weeks behind the construction. If you haven't seen the first 8 posts, please follow the link (1-8). I think that will work and I'll continue to do this until the construction is finished. 

After the pipe was laid in the ditch in post #8, the pipe was prepared to cross the road. The road wasn't dug up until the next day, but all the prep work was done so things were ready to pop into place. Because I didn't post anything for quite a while, these photos here compromise a couple of days. 

 The photo below is right in front of mom's drive. It was fascinating to watch two rigs lift and move the pipes into the ground. I have to also mention, mom's landline is right in this area and the crew was incredibly careful about keeping the line intact throughout the entire procedure.

 Here Peak is finally tearing up the main road nearest our driveway. Thankfully, Claire Road was an alternate access to Lamplight.

 Orange fencing to keep stray moose and people out of the dangerous drop.

I was really glad to watch this section of the work. When they went under Lamplight, they literally went under it (I think I mentioned that). This time Peak efficiently dug up the road and laid the pipe down.

The Second Part of Friday Pipeline Construction (8)

This post is full of similarities and thoughts. This sign telling us road work is ahead is so apt in many areas of our lives. All the men and women working on our road have worked together to make this project happen. Often we need more than ourselves to finish something we might think is daunting. I hope to remember this as I wander my way through the next days, weeks, months, and years. 

This was fun to watch. One of the pipes needed moved and this machine, with the help of some spotters, did the job. 

Once it was moved, welders moved in to do their job. 

 Once done, it was marked with a tape. It still needed inspected.

One of the things that completely amazed me were the birds. The machines make a great deal of noise and, yet, nothing seems to bother these guys much at all! 

I am a bit concerned about this spot of trees, though. On Monday the pipe will be laid to rest near them and in one of these prickly tall trees is a robin on a nest. I'm hoping she doesn't have any eggs in there or they are going to get scrambled! 

 Later in the afternoon, I was told this pipe would be put down and it would be easier to me to watch from the road. I did and am very glad I was given the opportunity. All of these workers had a part to play and I got to watch!

 This is one of those other pieces used to help move pipe. This, I believe, is called a roller. It rolls on the pipe as the pipe is put down- The two rigs worked in tandem to do this job. However, the edge of the bank is sand (remember back to posts when mom had her septic system replaced?) and they needed to call in 'the little brother'.

 The smaller tractor came in and lifted with a smaller strap and the day was saved! (ok, it wasn't that dramatic, but I read a lot of children books.)

Monday, this area will be dug into and pipe will be set across this road and on past mom's. They will need to be careful because mom's phone line is in the way. They go under lots of things, so I'm not one bit concerned. 

I know there are 8 posts now about the pipeline road. I'm going to try to link them all in this one. 

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven. 

Do know there may be more in these updates than just the Pipeline! There will be birds and Oregon and more than likely, me. (yikes!)

A Day in Pipeline Construction! (7)

Friday was really busy on the Pipeline road where mum's house is. A lot of things were happening and I was fortunate enough to have been around to watch much of it. Many of these photos are similar, they show parts of the work I found interesting. Some pictures might seem self explanatory, I still found them interesting! I will put all my photos from Friday into two posts since I took so many. 

This company and those how are working with Peak and Hilcorp are incredibly kind to this civilian lady with the camera. I've learned a great deal. I didn't take a picture of the pile of tires next to the paved road-I should have. It appears those are very useful contraptions. They are put on the asphalt so when these giant tractors drive across the roadbed isn't harmed. Pretty cool, huh? 

I took the first couple of photos on Thursday night after everyone was gone.

These next photos were Friday around noon. Thankfully, traffic could go around and use Claire Road to get to Lamplight since the road was blocked. 

One of the crazy looking tools used in working on the project. There are other tools which resemble small Kirby products. They don't clean, though. Those identify where lines and other pipes might be. 

 You can tell how deep the ditch is here. The tarp is over a spot where they are welding and the tree is on the edge of the ditch!

When the pipes need moved, a couple of things might be used. Here straps were brought into play. 

This man isn't holding a selfie stick. It is a contraption that is placed on the welds after the pipe is put in the trench. It is a GPS tool and marks exactly where each weld is. 

One of the workers took these photos for me. It was raining one of those light misty rains that doesn't get you wet til suddenly you realise you are soaked. I was entirely thankful Justin got these for me. I don't like getting in the way and I absolutely wanted to see what was inside the trench!!!! 

I went back and forth this Friday and was absolutely fascinated!