University of St. Thomas

Timeline

Ryan Companies began construction of a five-level, 725-space parking ramp near the southwest corner of Cretin and Grand avenues on the University of St. Thomas campus on May 19, 2008.

Ryan will also make improvements to Cretin at the Grand intersection, including two full northbound lanes on Cretin between Lincoln and Summit avenues and left-hand turn lanes from Cretin onto Grand and into the St. Thomas campus.

Anderson Parking Facility

Here is a timetable of anticipated activities. The schedule is subject to change, depending on weather conditions and progress made by crews. The university will update its campus construction web site every Friday from May until the project concludes in early 2009. 

• May 19: A construction fence and erosion/sediment controls was installed around the site. The construction area requires the closing of Lots N, U and a portion of Lot O. The south campus drive (Grand Avenue extension) will be closed to public access during the summer. Gates in the construction fence will be located at each corner of the site, with an additional gate on the north side between the ramp and McCarthy.
• May 22: Demolition of the tennis courts and site preparation for the parking ramp.
• May 29: Foundation excavation began on the west side of the ramp site and continue east toward Cretin. The excavation process will take three weeks to complete.
• June 10: Footings for the parking foundation will begin. Pilings will not need to be driven because the nature of soil stability. It will take seven weeks to complete the footings, foundation walls and lower level parking slab.
• June 16: A tower crane will be erected within the foot print of the parking foundation (centered north and south and 40 feet east of center).  The tower crane will stand 100 feet tall and have a hook radius of 197 feet, and will be used to set forms, place concrete and set precast panels. Ryan expects to remove the tower crane in early December.
• July 1: Precast concrete wall and floor panels will be erected at the stair towers on the northeast and southeast and corners of the ramp.
• July 2-3: City and Ryan crews will tie in a new eight-inch water main from Cretin into ramp site. There may be minor disruptions of traffic on Cretin.
• July 16: Work will begin on four levels of post-tensioned concrete slabs, and will take five months to complete. The ramp will require over 12,800 cubic yards of concrete, 600 tons of steel reinforcing and 237,000 pounds of post-tensioned cable.
• August 6: The site will be backfilled to grade.
• September-October: Work will occur on the interior mechanical and electrical systems.
• November 4: As post-tensioned slab pours near completion, precast wall panels will be set on the ramps’ exterior. These panels will take four weeks to complete.
• November 10: Exterior concrete, including the north entrance drive and sidewalks, will be poured.
• December-January: Interior finishes such as the elevator, lighting, security, HVAC barrier cables and guard rails will be installed.
• February: The ramp will be turned over to St. Thomas, and the city will issue a certificate of occupancy by the end of the month.
• May: Landscaping will be done around the site.

Cretin Avenue Improvements:

• May 29: Temporary traffic control devices will be installed at Cretin and Grand.
• June 2: Required removals such as trees, light poles, curbs and asphalt will be completed. Utility connections will follow.
• June 18: New curb and gutter will be poured along Cretin.
• July 1: New asphalt will replace what was removed and sidewalks will be completed.
• July 8: Landscaping will be handled in the boulevards along Cretin.