Blast works for the Cross River Rail to start this week
The first test explosions for Cross River Rail excavations will begin at two inner city sites in the coming days.
Southeast
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THE first explosive blasts for Cross River Rails’s two new inner city stations will begin in coming days.
The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority will announce today that test blasting will begin near the Albert Street CBD underground station and the new Woolloongabba station before the end of the week.
The test blasting will be carried out ahead of larger scale controlled explosive use in order to understand the ground where the excavation will be carried out.
Tests will be carried out in early July and the controlled blasting excavation runs throughout July and August.
“Today we have advised local residents and businesses that trials of controlled blasting will be carried next week at the Albert Street site and the week after at our Woolloongabba site,” a CRRDA spokesperson said.
“Both of these sites contain very hard rock such as Brisbane Tuff and Neranleigh Fernvale, and these trial blasts will be monitored to give us an understanding of the ground conditions.
“It will also help us predict the noise and vibration levels we can expect from a program of blasting to be done from July through August, if the test blasting is successful.
“Controlled blasting breaks up areas of hard rock not able to be broken using construction machinery and reduces the amount of time we have to spend excavating.”
The blasting uses only small explosive charges and will not cause loud noises or vibration.
“Once the small explosive charges are loaded, the holes are filled with up to two metres of gravel which acts like a cork to contain pressure, this is covered by ‘blast mats’ made of shock-absorbing rubber, held down with one tonne of sand bags,” the spokesperson said.
“These multiple layers prevent debris and dust, as well as reduce the impact of noise and vibration.
“Those in proximity to the site may hear and feel the controlled blast, with the sound similar to rumbling thunder and only slight vibrations felt.”
CRRDA will notify nearby residents at least 48 hours in advance of any blasting and a siren will sound immediately before blasting.