Stockton, Calif. -
Crews today begin moving the 140,000 cubic yards of dirt that make
up the berm foundation of Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Stadium
– a massive job that will require an estimated 180 dump truck
trips a day for more than six weeks.
The work is part of an estimated $1.75 million stadium removal
project to make room for new athletics facilities, including a
state-of-the-art tennis center and new fields for soccer and field
hockey. Plans also call for an Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Plaza
that will honor legendary Pacific coach Amos Alonzo Stagg, as well
as military veterans and Pacific football.
About 40,000 cubic yards of dirt will be moved to the stadium
floor to raise it to grade level in the first phase of the
work. Another 100,000 yards will be trucked off campus in the
second phase, which is expected to start June 10.
Tom Samuel, co-owner of the Linden-based contracting firm T &
S West, anticipates hauling away 2,430 yards a day for 40 days.
Working 10-hour days, his crews will cart off 18 truckloads an hour
– meaning that one dump truck will be pulling out of Larry
Heller Drive onto Pershing Avenue every three minutes.
Facilities personnel do not anticipate a significant impact on
campus traffic, but staff and faculty who normally enter or exit
campus from Larry Heller Drive can avoid potential delays by using
the Mendocino Avenue or Pacific Avenue entrances instead.
Dust abatement measures will keep dust to a minimum, but
individuals with lung and heart disease or breathing problems
should take standard precautions to avoid potential exposure if
dust is noticeable, according to Pacific Health Services. These
precautions include avoiding going outside or exercising outdoors
when dust is noticeable.
The north and west sides of Parking Lot 1 will be closed to
parking, but the remainder of the lot will remain open. Nearby
parking is available in lots 2, 3 and 4 as well.
Samuel is in the process of finding buyers for the dirt, which is
suitable for use in levee repair and other area construction
projects. The location of those buyers will determine the exact
route that trucks will take once they leave campus. Proceeds from
the dirt sales will help offset the cost of the project.
The schedule should allow Pacific to meet its goal of having a new
field hockey field completed by Homecoming in October. Completion
of the soccer field and Zimmerman Tennis Center will follow.
The new athletics facilities will help increase Pacific’s
competiveness in the West Coast Conference, aid in recruiting top
athletes and strengthen Pacific Athletics’ rich heritage.
Pacific returned to the prestigious conference last year.
