THUNDER BAY — Constructing apartment buildings on bedrock presents unique challenges, but the Thunder Bay company working on a new development on Huron Avenue says it's partnered with an experienced firm to ensure the rock is blasted safely.
Starting around the end of October, blasting will happen for two months on a daily basis to make two-metre-deep trenches for infrastructure for what will ultimately be six buildings comprised of 72 apartments for Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services.
"It's not risky at all. The blasts are going to be very small, and it's all controlled," said Ryan Jones of RJ Concrete and Construction. "That's why we brought in Castonguay [Blasting Ltd., of Sudbury], the professionals. They're a very large corporation. They have a lot of experience."
As a precaution, residents in the neighbourhood are currently being approached on behalf of Castonguay to voluntarily participate in pre-blast surveys of their properties.
It will include recording the existing condition of the interior and exterior of houses and other structures, for use at the discretion of the property-owner in the event any claim for damages is made.
"We're here to work with residents," Jones said. "We're not here to cause concern. If there are any questions, they're more than welcome to reach out...and we're not here to rush this."
He said the project has plenty of oversight, including by the City of Thunder Bay, the Ministry of Labour, an architectural firm and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Corp.
"So there's lots of eyes on this...At the end of the day, everybody wants to see this work done safely, and we're confident we can get it done without issue to schools, the two buildings we're currently working on that will be right next to the blasting, and the housing and infrastructure that surrounds that piece of property."
Although only a couple of the buildings are under construction, the blasting will also create the trenches required to service the four other buildings planned for the site.
"We're blasting now so we wont have to blast anymore on this project," Jones said.
