Construction crews were out on Lewis Lane early Friday as cement trucks began the process of dumping tons of concrete into wooden forms that will become the main structure of the bridge connecting Danville Boulevard with the property for the new Alamo YMCA.
“This is the critical piece of infrastructure for the YMCA because it literally connects us to the community,” said Kathy Chiverton, executive director of the San Ramon Valley YMCA.
Foreman John Hooper of R.M. Harris from Martinez said the work would take about four hours, as they used a pump to shoot the 190 cubic yards of concrete out through a long tube to fill in the forms. As each area was filled, crews on hand worked to smooth the mixture, getting out any bubbles and allowing the concrete to solidify.
Hooper said the concrete would take a few weeks to dry. Once it has set, workers will begin the process of stringing utility wires through access tubes. After that, a top layer of concrete and asphalt will be put down and the bridge will be ready for testing.
The final stage of the bridge is the installation of cables that run below the deck. When the cables are in place, he said a machine will be brought in that will put 1.5 million pounds of pressure on the bridge, holding it steady and helping it to hold the weight of the vehicles traveling across.
Building the bridge is an integral part in the construction of the YMCA, which will be located directly north of Hap Magee Ranch Park. The 12-acre site will house a campus style arrangement of buildings that will utilize the existing topography.
The initial phase will be a 29,000-square-foot facility that will include an indoor warm water therapy pool, an outdoor lap pool and a family splash zone.
The design, by Dahlin Group, includes a family wellness center with cardiovascular equipment, aerobics/pilates and yoga rooms, a teaching kitchen, teen leadership center, and a multi-generational center for teens and seniors.
The YMCA has been involved in a fundraising effort to pay the cost of the $9.1 million facility over the past four years. Mark Checchi and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network are sponsoring the Mt. Diablo Region YMCA’s 51st annual Golf Tournament to be held on June 15 at Diablo Country Club.
“We’re a little under $300,000 from our goal that will help us as we go forward in getting our bond financing,” said Chiverton.
With the completion of the bridge, construction vehicles will have better access to the property and building can get under way. Chiverton said fall 2010 is the likely opening date for the new facility.
