Moving the Live Oak Manor Stone Arch
Hydro excavation unit to the left of the arch. (Photo date 7/3/2018)
The stone gateway arch was in the way of street improvements on Sierra Highway for the Center at Needham Ranch project. Due to its age (built in 1926), the developer couldn't just destroy it. It is considered a historic structure. They agreed to move it to a new location near the entrance.
Their first plan was to dig out the whole arch, including the base, and move it all in one piece. Exploratory work began on July 3, 2018. They weren't sure how the base of the arch was built or what utility lines might be in the way. Therefore, they decided to use hydro excavation for the initial work instead of just using a backhoe to dig up the ground around the arch. Hydro excavation uses pressurized water to break up the soil which is then removed with an industrial strength vacuum into a debris tank. This eliminated the risk of damaging any unknown underground pipelines or utilities. Besides being safer, this method is also faster then conventional digging.
This would turn out to be a good decision because besides locating a communications pipe, then also found an 18 inch gas pipe. The gas pipe killed their plan of removing the whole arch intact. Their next plan was to cut through the two legs of the stone arch from the base about two feet below ground level, raising, and then moving the baseless arch.
After the stone arch was enclosed in a steel frame for support (see photos), workers cut through the legs of the arch on August 29, 2018. Then they raised the entire arch up about 6 inches (I didn't see how that was done).
The final step was to move the arch to a temporary location. This was done the next day (August 30). The arch was lifted by a heavy duty fork lift and placed on a flatbed truck. The weight of the arch with frame was about 20 tons. The truck transported it to a temporary location close by, still on the old Live Oak Manor ranch. Then the arch was lifted off of the truck and lowered to the ground by the same heavy duty fork lift. Here it will stay until the new location is determined and made ready. This might not be until the project is done.
When the arch is in its final location, I will update this page.
More photos and a video of the arch being moved can be found on the SCVHistory.com website.
Excavation on the west (project) side of arch. (7/3/2018)
Excavation on the east (road) side of the arch. (7/3/2018)
About 6 feet deep. Workers reported an upside down railroad track at the lowest part of the base. This was possibly used when the arch was re-located in 1930. (7/5/2018)
White paint around the 18 inch gas pipe found on the road side of the arch. This would mean that they would not be able to remove the arch and base in one piece. The gas pipe was too close. (Photo by Leon Warden, 7/6/2018)
The work is now in limbo. This is the communications pipe found on the west side of the arch. (7/10/2018)
The excavations have now been filled in while they decide what to do. (7/18/2018)
(7/23/2018)
After nearly a month, the arch is being excavated again. (8/21/2018)
(8/21/2018)
(8/22/2018)
(8/22/2018)
Now they are beginning to construct the frame that will contain the arch. They do not want the arch fall apart during transport.(8/23/2018)
The metal frame parts will be welded together. (8/23/2018)
Evening view after the day's work has been completed. (8/23/2018)
Another evening view. (8/23/2018)
(8/24/2018)
(8/24/2018)
Saturday view. The fence between the arch legs was removed yesterday. (8/25/2018)
(8/25/2018)
Monday. A new week begins. (8/27/2018)
More welding. (8/27/2018)
Tuesday evening after work finished. (8/28/2018)
They are now ready to cut the arch legs away from the base. The cut will be where the stones meet the concrete base, at the green arrow. Straps are used to hold the two sides of the frame against the arch. (8/28/2018)
The cutting has started. Here you see the size of the blades used. (8/29/2018)
Closer view of horizontal cut. I couldn't get any closer. (8/29/2018)
In the evening, I could get closer views. The arch has been raised about 6 inches from the base. Since I wasn't there at the time, I don't know how they did that. (8/29/2018)
(8/29/2018)
Ready for the move. (8/29/2018)
Moving day. (8/30/2018)
(8/30/2018)
Fork lift has been moved into position. (8/30/2018)
The arch has been lifted and moved away from the base. (8/30/2018)
View towards the east. Photo by the Oltmans Construction Co.
The flat bed truck has been backed under the arch. The arch is lowered on to the truck. (8/30/2018)
The arch is tied to the truck so that it won't tip over. (8/30/2018)
Looks like it is good to go. (8/30/2018)
The truck moves forward so that the road can be cleaned up. (8/30/2018)
The stuff in the road is moved away so that the truck can smoothly back up to the entrance of the construction site. (8/30/2018)
The truck has backed up past the entrance and is now driving forward into the construction site. (8/30/2018)
The arch is at its temporary resting place. (8/30/2018)
It is lifted from the truck by the fork lift. (8/30/2018)
And lowered to the ground after the truck is moved forward. (8/30/2018)
The former location of the arch. (8/30/2018)
The arch at its new resting place the day after the move. It has made it there without any damage. (8/31/2018)
Good job by the team responsible for preparing and moving the arch. (8/31/2018)
The top part of the base has been jack-hammered. Now the planned road improvements on Sierra Highway can be started. (8/31/2018)