Dockyard blasting begins this week

Photo by MCpl Chris Ward, Imaging Services, CFB Esquimalt

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

Construction crews working on the A/B Jetty Recapitalization Project in Dockyard will begin 10 weeks of controlled blasting operations starting June 21.

The use of explosives will be limited to a controlled site and occur up to three times a day on land located near B Jetty and the foot of Rainbow Drive, and is expected to conclude in early September.

Blasting is part of the excavation of 11,000m3 of bedrock to allow for proper elevation of the extension of the utility corridor, and new electrical substation, Jetty Interface Building, and filter press building to process oily waste water.

Erin Rice, Team Leader Construction Services for Defence Construction Canada, says blasting will be limited to a controlled site and provide no danger to neighbourhood residents. She said pre-blast signals of 12 short whistles followed by an all-clear five-second whistle will likely be the only audible noise for residents.

“The blasting activities are limited to very low velocities due to the surrounding heritage structures, and conducted by a team with extensive experience blasting in the dockyard,” said Rice. “We have retained geotechnical engineers to monitor all blast impacts, and the contractor and consultants will both be monitoring activity with seismographs placed in the vicinity.”

People working in Dockyard are reminded to heed all safety signage and avoid the area.

Blasting on the site will be necessary at some point in 2018, with details and timelines to be announced at a later date.

Communications packages explaining further details about the blasting are being sent to effected stakeholders in close proximity to the site, and Rice said a timetable of the blasts will also be made available.

Work on the demolition of B Jetty, an initial phase of the $781 million, eight-year A/B Jetty recapitalization project began April 26 when workers from Ruskin Construction Ltd took apart the 70-year-old jetty with a 150-tonne, 120-foot long crane.

New jetty and facilities will allow support for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Pacific Fleet of the future and delivery on Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy over the next 30 years.