ninyo & moore
800.427.0401

Metro Regional Connector Tunnel Project

© Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Regional Connector Transit Project
© Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Regional Connector Transit Project
© Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Regional Connector Transit Project
© Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Regional Connector Transit Project
© Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Regional Connector Transit Project

The Regional Connector consists of twin underground tunnels approximately 1.9 miles long and more than 50 feet below grade that connect several of Metro’s existing light rail lines to provide better connectivity and more efficient rail service in the downtown area. The twin tunnels were constructed with the use of earth pressure balance (EPB) type tunnel boring machines (TBM). Concrete segment liners were used as primary support of the tunnel excavations which were assembled within the tail shield of the TBM as the shield advanced forward.

Project Highlights:

  • 2 Underground Light Rail Tunnels
  • 3 Underground Stations
  • Cross-over Underground Cavern
  • Earth Pressure Balance (EPB) Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM)
  • Sequential Excavation Method (SEM)
  • Geotechnical Instrumentation Installation and Monitoring Program
    • 80 multi-point borehole extensometers
    • 50 ground, utility, and building settlement reference points
    • 20 inclinometers
    • 5 groundwater monitoring wells
    • Multiple strain gauges, load-cells, tilt-meters, liquid levels, and crack gauges

Ninyo & Moore provided geotechnical instrumentation monitoring services for this project to help manage risk and liability to the owner due to the tunneling and excavation construction. Ninyo & Moore was responsible for the management, supervision, and oversight of the geotechnical instrumentation installation and monitoring program. This program evaluated ground deformation and associated structural behavior during tunneling, cavern excavation, and station cut-and-cover operations, and provided early warning of adverse ground surface performance. Our services included 1) overseeing the installation, data acquisition, and maintenance of geotechnical instrumentation installed by the Contractor and ensuring conformance with the project’s geotechnical instrumentation specifications; 2) compilation, interpretation and reporting of data obtained through a GIS Web-based data and information management system called iSiteCentralTM for real-time, remote monitoring applications; and 3) review of project-related geotechnical submittals. Geotechnical instrumentation included multipoint borehole extensometers, ground, utility and building settlement reference points, inclinometers, groundwater monitoring wells, strain gauges, load-cells, tilt-meters, liquid levels and crack gauges.

Project Details

Client:

Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority c/o Arcadis

Location:

Los Angeles, California

Client Testimonials

Paul Brown
"For over 25 years, Ninyo & Moore has performed in an outstanding manner on SDUPD as-needed environmental consulting services… Among Ninyo & Moore’s major attributes are a strong understanding of public sector client needs, innovative technical solutions, detailed understanding of regulations, and a proactive, professional relationship with regulators and consultants in the region."
Paul Brown
Program Manager
Environmental San Diego Unified Port District
Michael Grossman, P.E.
"I wanted to personally congratulate you and your team on wrapping up an extremely complex geotechnical project... The Bureau of Engineering, site soils conditions, and complex/revised structural system did not make for an easy scope of services… When faced with adversity your team was up to the task. It worked through a tough re-design/compressed time line, difficult series of approvals, and persevered…"
Michael Grossman, P.E.
Managing Director
AvAirPros: Milestone for Terminal 1.5 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Glenn Young
"Thank you for the incredible value, service, quality and impact… We are so appreciative of your commitment, expertise and experience in preparing plans and reports, obtaining superb field contracting services and providing professional field work. You are the best of the best."
Glenn Young
California Department of Resource and Recycling
Mark D. Claussen, PE
"Services provided include hazardous material investigation and documentation; geotechnical evaluation, testing and observation; and, special inspections and testing services. …I highly recommend Ninyo & Moore for all these services to any government agency tasked with the public safety, and providing timely and professional data to support both project schedule and budget development."
Mark D. Claussen, PE
Bond Program Manager
Southwestern Community College
Mark Stapledon
"Ninyo & Moore’s team is responsive, collaborative, and technically knowledgeable… I highly recommend Ninyo & Moore for these services to any other school district due to their excellent service, technical abilities, timely response to any request, and ability to support our schedules and budgets."
Mark Stapledon
Construction Management Supervisor
San Diego Unified School District
Mark Law
"Ninyo & Moore’s staff responded to the City’s needs and worked closely with our Capital Improvement Division to ensure cost effective recommendations and services. Ninyo & Moore’s team services are professional, client oriented, and provide quality reports."
Mark Law
Project Manager
City of Missouri City
Kay Khadem, CCM, PMP, LEED ®AP
"I wanted to take the time to thank you for the service your company provided to ours. We sincerely appreciate your customer service, how you’re always available to handle challenging issues, the excellent work you have demonstrated on every project, and the professional way you conduct business."
Kay Khadem, CCM, PMP, LEED ®AP
Senior Project Manager
Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District
Kevin Huber
"Ninyo & Moore’s consultants have been efficient and extremely responsive and have demonstrated excellent communication skills and quality of work. I am pleased with the value of Ninyo & Moore’s services and am happy to refer them to my associates and other entities in need of their services. We would highly recommend using Ninyo & Moore for any of their services…"
Kevin Huber
Executive Director
Cooperative Strategies

NINYO & MOORE We transform today so our world is a better place tomorrow.