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Background Information and Frequently Answered Questions for Riverside and Southcliff Blasting Project

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Who
: Blasting Services, Inc. (Contractor)

What: Removal of bedrock and granite through a controlled blasting process

Why: Hardened ground resistant to the pneumatic drill process needs to be removed for the installation of two pipelines. One for sewer and the other for sanitation. When: Monday, June 26, 2023 – Friday, July 7, 2023. The blasting on June 26th will occur at 9:00 AM. The subsequent dates will have a detonation time of 3:00 PM. There will be NO blasting on the weekends and NO blasting on the 4th of July.

Where: Riverside & Southcliff Project site. The parcels are listed as 2001-2009 Southcliff Road and 4610-4612 Riverside Drive What residents will hear prior to blasting: Warning Signal - A series of Long Horns up to 5 Minutes prior to clearing the area. Blast Signal - A series of short horns 1 minute prior to the shot. All Clear Signal - A prolonged horn following the inspection of blast. Area: The size of the detonation is approximately 10’ x 15’.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is the permit timeline? The permit timeline is three (3) weeks, from June 26 to July 14, 2023. This timeframe allows for site assessment to determine if any additional detonations will be needed after July 7, 2023.

2. Are there any utility lines in the blasting area? The blasting impacts private property. As a result, there is NO impact on the utilities located in the public right of way. Background Information and Frequently Asked Questions about the Riverside and Southcliff Project Site

3. How long can residents expect each blasting session to last? Each blasting session will last up to 30 minutes.

4. Who do I contact if there is damage to my home or property? Contact the blasting company directly at (804) 749-4923, and they will put you in contact with their insurance company.

5. How can I review the plans? Send a Freedom of Information Act (F.O.I.A) request to petula.buks@rva.gov. If you have additional questions about the FOIA process, call (804)225-3056 or (866)448-4100.

6. How will the site be kept safe? The contractor will have individuals on-site surrounding the area to ensure no one comes into the blasting zone. There will be signs posted and red danger tape outlining the area. Additionally, there will be at least one Fire Marshal present every day.

7. What could delay a detonation? Heavy rain during the time of detonation will stop the detonations for the day.

 

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