There’s supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!

If you find yourself in the vicinity of Pine Avenue and University Street at specific times of day over the next several weeks, you may hear the odd earth-shattering kaboom. Blasting associated with the construction of a new service tunnel that will run from somewhere near that intersection under the Lyman Duff Building and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – the Neuro – to its terminus at the north end of the Neuro will occur Monday through Friday at two periods each day: from 7 – 7:30 a.m. and from 7 – 7:30 p.m.
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A new service tunnel will be built from under the Lyman Duff Building (above) and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – the Neuro – to its terminus at the north end of the Neuro.

By McGill Reporter Staff

If you find yourself in the vicinity of Pine Avenue and University Street at specific times of day over the next several weeks, you may hear the odd earth-shattering kaboom.

Rest assured that it’s not Marvin the Martian playing with his Illudium pu-36 Explosive Space Modulator (Bugs Bunny fans will understand) but blasting associated with the construction of a new service tunnel that will run from somewhere near that intersection under the Lyman Duff Building and the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – the Neuro – to its terminus at the north end of the Neuro.

Blasting through the bedrock will occur Monday through Friday at two periods each day: from 7 – 7:30 a.m. and from 7 – 7:30 p.m. The first blasting will occur at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. Blasting will be more noticeable as the blasts are near the surface. Once blasting proceeds horizontally, under the buildings, the blasts will be little more than muffled thuds.

The Safety Code procedure for blasting is as follows:

1) 12 small warning shots at a second interval

2) Wait for a period of 30 seconds

3) Firing

4) Continuous warning lasting 15 seconds to announce the end of the blasting

No blasting is presently scheduled for weekends, but if additional sessions are needed, project managers will provide notice at least a week in advance. Blasting times will never be added at different times of the day, but may only be cancelled at the pre-arranged times, which have been agreed upon by the various parties affected by the project.

The new service tunnel will provide critical steam and condensate conduits and electrical power.

The project is to be completed by February 2015.

For more information on the project, including whom to reach for questions or concerns, please visit this link.