Denver Union Station & FasTracks

[SnyderBock]

Denver Union Station Update #109
Posted by Ryan Dravitz on December 2, 2012

Today, for my 100th post on DenverInfill, I am going to update you on Denver’s most extraordinary project: Denver Union Station. As you know, the historic station is now closed and will be renovated over the next two years. But that’s not all the exciting news! Both wing buildings are under construction as well as the enormous, beautiful commuter rail canopy. Let’s take a look!

These two pictures give you an idea of how large this canopy is going to be. It’s only about 25% complete and will span all the way across the historic station...

http://denverinfill.com/blog/

Canopy

Source: http://denverinfill.com/blog/

South Wing Building

Source: http://denverinfill.com/blog/

North Wing Building

Source: http://denverinfill.com/blog/

Wewatta Street & Cadence Apartment Building

Source: http://denverinfill.com/blog/


Source: http://denverinfill.com/blog/



Here's images from the Keiwit webcam:


Source: http://www.earthcam.com/client/kiewit/?cam=pano


Source: http://www.earthcam.com/client/kiewit/?cam=pano


Source: http://www.earthcam.com/client/kiewit/?cam=pano



And From bunt_q


Source: bunt_q


Source: bunt_q


Source: bunt_q


Source: bunt_q


Source: bunt_q

Here's what the Great Hall will be transformed into:

[SnyderBock]

Also, here's a nice panorama by denverryan:


Source: denverryan

[ardecila]

Only four tracks in that massive trainshed?

[natiboy]

Man that's awesome! I'm so jealous...

[wong21fr]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Only four tracks in that massive trainshed?

Eight actually. Five currently under construction (the tracks nearest to the station is a double set) and three more that will be built out over the portion of the canopy that is being erected.

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Only four tracks in that massive trainshed?

I feel abit Jealous....but then again its open air...

[DenverInfill]

Originally Posted by Nexis4Jersey

I feel abit Jealous....but then again its open air...

Open air is how we do things in Colorado. Having the whole thing under glass just wouldn't seem right.

[SnyderBock]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Only four tracks in that massive trainshed?

Originally Posted by wong21fr

Eight actually. Five currently under construction (the tracks nearest to the station is a double set) and three more that will be built out over the portion of the canopy that is being erected.

Here is how the 8 track configuration works. It's designed to allow easy transfer from one train to another, with only two main (super platforms). It's actually a pretty efficient design...

[SFUVancouver]

Fantastic project. I'm swinging through Denver late next spring and I'll make a point of seeing this in person.

[ardecila]

Oh, I see. There are three platforms that are much shorter and don't really enter the trainshed.

[BG918]

I still wish they were able to link together the C, E & W lines into the train shed with the future commuter lines to DIA, Thornton, Boulder and Arvada. I understand the constraints and costs to do so but it's still awkward.

The way they could solve the problem would be a future phase involving boring underneath the bus terminal creating a rail station underneath Union Station with escalators/stairs up into the bus terminal and Union Station, continuing up 17th as a cut and cover subway. This would then tie into either an underground Broadway subway or at-grade central connector on Broadway/Lincoln to the I-25/Broadway station. That way the C, E & W lines could terminate underneath Union Station with direct connections to new central corridor lines, or have those lines continue to Civic Center where they meet the E, F & H lines. A long range plan but something to start thinking about in 5-10 years that would better serve the most dense and urban parts of central Denver.

[eleven=11]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Oh, I see. There are three platforms that are much shorter and don't really enter the trainshed.

can someone post a better pic of this ........

[SnyderBock]

Originally Posted by eleven=11

can someone post a better pic of this ........

I posted all available, as far as I know. They aren't shorter, the 2 platforms are just further back in the train shed. Those two will be completely under the portion of the canopy already erected and will also be covered over by the pedestrian platform over the tracks.

Further back to the north, the remainder of the platforms were originally going to be covered by building structures. However, with post 9/11 anti-terrorism guild-lines, that may prove to be too expensive and too severe of a security risk. I imagine a 2nd canopy one day being erected over the north end of the platforms from the pedestrian bridge to just shy of 18th street. This one would likely be fully enclosed.

[eleven=11]

does anybody know if bing maps or bing 45 view
if they ever update the pics?
ALL of there stuff is old, very old

google map view a little better....

[SnyderBock]

Courtesy of forumer, BG918... Denver Union Station site is looking very active now, with it's 4 tower cranes. There's going to be even more towers cranes go up this year across this site. At peak, there should be 6-8 tower cranes up. Anyway, thanks for the iphone shot BG918:


Courtesy: BG918

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by eleven=11

does anybody know if bing maps or bing 45 view
if they ever update the pics?
ALL of there stuff is old, very old

google map view a little better....

If you want a great current view of this project.. Go here.. It's an awesome webcam till it gets covered up by the 21-story tower going right in front of it.

http://www.earthcam.com/client/kiewit/

[mr1138]

Google Earth drives me crazy with their schedule for releasing new imagery (or lack of one). Some years they pump out 2-3 new, and sometimes very recent updates. Other times, like right now, they stick us with the same imagery for nearly 2 or more years. The webcam does work great for viewing Union Station itself, but I'll second the motion that Google needs to give us some new Denver imagery for the new year. With all the new construction recently, I would very much appreciate it!

[BG918]

I'll post more pics periodically, and next time not so early in the morning when the lighting is bad! I think we'll see another tower crane at 1650 Wewatta by spring since they are already mobilizing and fencing off the site. That is the 21 story apartment tower which currently is the tallest building going up at Union Station. The others are 5, 5 and 13 stories with a 9 story hotel and 10 story office building proposed and expected to start later this year at 16th & Wewatta. There are also two 5 story apartment projects expected to start this year, one of which will have a full service urban grocery store. 2013 should see more proposals for the remaining parcels along the 17th promenade, likely more residential.

On the transit front, the canopy is almost halfway complete and the underground bus terminal is now fully covered and they are finishing it out over the next few months. I've heard the bus terminal will be operational by the time the West Line opens in April, is that still the case?

[mr1138]

I had previously heard that the bus terminal won't be up and running until they can provide access on the east end via elevators/escalators and through the historic building. This means it can't actually open for business until the rest of the station does in 2014. Of course at that point Amtrak will be the only train actually running into the new station since the Airport, Arvada and South Westminster lines don't open until 2016.

[Mulligan]

Originally Posted by mr1138

I had previously heard that the bus terminal won't be up and running until they can provide access on the east end via elevators/escalators and through the historic building. This means it can't actually open for business until the rest of the station does in 2014. Of course at that point Amtrak will be the only train actually running into the new station since the Airport, Arvada and South Westminster lines don't open until 2016.

The DUS Bus Facility won't open until somewhere around May 1, 2014.