Comments on: Transit-center crews to blast into bedrock http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/ Your neighborhood news source Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:36:43 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tim Helble http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-58189 Tim Helble Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:31:20 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-58189 I see the guys in hazmat suits also. Perhaps it was the discovery of some kind of hazardous material that has been causing the delay in finishing the excavation. My guess is that they found mold. I see the guys in hazmat suits also. Perhaps it was the discovery of some kind of hazardous material that has been causing the delay in finishing the excavation. My guess is that they found mold.

]]> By: Michael http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-58140 Michael Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:45:59 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-58140 There are now guys in Tyvek suits and respirators digging up what looks to be an underground conduit of some type. They are keeping the dust down with a water spray, bagging the material in plastic and putting it into dumpsters lined with plastic, so it must be some type of hazmat. Amusing thing is watching the supervisor with no protective gear on at all standing right next to the workers. At one point he was even hosing down the debris himself. There are now guys in Tyvek suits and respirators digging up what looks to be an underground conduit of some type. They are keeping the dust down with a water spray, bagging the material in plastic and putting it into dumpsters lined with plastic, so it must be some type of hazmat. Amusing thing is watching the supervisor with no protective gear on at all standing right next to the workers. At one point he was even hosing down the debris himself.

]]> By: Catherine http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57720 Catherine Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:40:09 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57720 Oh, good, more ungodly noises in downtown Silver Spring. Seriously, though, at 6:50 a.m. this morning the construction crew on Blair Mill road was dropping God knows what down metal chutes up a dozen or more stories, that the numerous residents nearby in the MICA condominiums, the Blairs, Rock Creek Springs, etc., might hear the racket. There is no end, no end whatsoever to the deafening roar, nor to the increasing unaffordability and decreasing quality of life. Oh, good, more ungodly noises in downtown Silver Spring. Seriously, though, at 6:50 a.m. this morning the construction crew on Blair Mill road was dropping God knows what down metal chutes up a dozen or more stories, that the numerous residents nearby in the MICA condominiums, the Blairs, Rock Creek Springs, etc., might hear the racket. There is no end, no end whatsoever to the deafening roar, nor to the increasing unaffordability and decreasing quality of life.

]]> By: Tim Helble http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57303 Tim Helble Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:57:59 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57303 The retaining wall along the railroad tracks is necessary because the three multi-level bus loops will be parallel to the tracks (the old single bus loop was parallel to Colesville). The lowest level (supposedly for Metrobus only) will be at the level of Colesville Road. They want to maximize the "real estate" at the bottom level, and the best way to facilitate that is to have a retaining wall close to the tracks instead of a 45 degree slope. Re pile-driving vs. blasting, they already did quite a bit of pile-driving for about a week for the area below where the kiss and ride used to be. It was very distracting and blasting would be much more preferable for those of us near the work site. However, before they start blasting, it looks to me like they still have a lot more excavating to do. The fact that county managers wouldn't respond to Jennifer's emails on "progress" of the construction seems curious to me. At the current snail's pace of this project, I think completion will be in 4 years (summer, 2013), not 2. I hope I'm wrong on this. The retaining wall along the railroad tracks is necessary because the three multi-level bus loops will be parallel to the tracks (the old single bus loop was parallel to Colesville). The lowest level (supposedly for Metrobus only) will be at the level of Colesville Road. They want to maximize the “real estate” at the bottom level, and the best way to facilitate that is to have a retaining wall close to the tracks instead of a 45 degree slope.

Re pile-driving vs. blasting, they already did quite a bit of pile-driving for about a week for the area below where the kiss and ride used to be. It was very distracting and blasting would be much more preferable for those of us near the work site. However, before they start blasting, it looks to me like they still have a lot more excavating to do.

The fact that county managers wouldn’t respond to Jennifer’s emails on “progress” of the construction seems curious to me. At the current snail’s pace of this project, I think completion will be in 4 years (summer, 2013), not 2. I hope I’m wrong on this.

]]> By: Grig Larson http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57287 Grig Larson Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:07:41 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57287 I have been told by people who were present for the blasting of the Discovery Building that the noise was pretty low-key, and they cover the area with dirt before they blast so all you get is a soft "thump" and nothing more than a large puff of dust. I have been told by people who were present for the blasting of the Discovery Building that the noise was pretty low-key, and they cover the area with dirt before they blast so all you get is a soft “thump” and nothing more than a large puff of dust.

]]> By: Jennifer Deseo http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57283 Jennifer Deseo Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:08:29 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57283 Maybe the guy who pulled together that time-lapsed video can document an explosion or two. Maybe the guy who pulled together that time-lapsed video can document an explosion or two.

]]> By: Terry in Silver Spring http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57282 Terry in Silver Spring Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:07:05 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57282 Oooh, the blasting for the building on the corner of E-W Hwy and Blair Mill was entertaining. Every day at 2pm for weeks. Wooomp! Too bad I won't be able to see the Transit Center blasts. Oooh, the blasting for the building on the corner of E-W Hwy and Blair Mill was entertaining. Every day at 2pm for weeks. Wooomp! Too bad I won’t be able to see the Transit Center blasts.

]]> By: Woodside Park Bob http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57270 Woodside Park Bob Wed, 30 Sep 2009 11:21:56 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57270 Having once had an office next to a construction site with continuous pile driving, I know what "M" is talking about. However, I think whether they drive piles or blast is determined by conditions under the site. I don't think they can drive piles through solid rock even if they wanted to. Having once had an office next to a construction site with continuous pile driving, I know what “M” is talking about. However, I think whether they drive piles or blast is determined by conditions under the site. I don’t think they can drive piles through solid rock even if they wanted to.

]]> By: M http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57202 M Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:53:44 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57202 You think blasting is bad? Hah. Try multiple piledrivers banging at the bedrock 8 hours a day for months -- that's what the Argent condos in S. Silver Spring did. Clearly it was not the smartest plan, nor the lowest-impact on us long-suffering neighbors, so when the building across Blair Mill Road went up, they did blasting instead. It was once a day (2 p.m.) just about every day for, oh, a couple months? (I think that's the same building Kathy J is referring to.) Blasting, on a regular schedule, is WAY WAY WAY better to live around, let me tell you. Though it's quite anticlimactic to watch. They cover up the blast zone with a heavy tarp thing, and all you see is a little puff of dust. You think blasting is bad? Hah. Try multiple piledrivers banging at the bedrock 8 hours a day for months — that’s what the Argent condos in S. Silver Spring did. Clearly it was not the smartest plan, nor the lowest-impact on us long-suffering neighbors, so when the building across Blair Mill Road went up, they did blasting instead. It was once a day (2 p.m.) just about every day for, oh, a couple months? (I think that’s the same building Kathy J is referring to.) Blasting, on a regular schedule, is WAY WAY WAY better to live around, let me tell you. Though it’s quite anticlimactic to watch. They cover up the blast zone with a heavy tarp thing, and all you see is a little puff of dust.

]]> By: IHateYuppies http://silverspringpenguin.com/2009/09/29/transit-center-crews-to-blast-into-bedrock/comment-page-1/#comment-57200 IHateYuppies Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:36:40 +0000 http://silverspringpenguin.com/?p=4985#comment-57200 I would love to see the Greyhound and Metro buses navigate those sand pits. Let's have a crash derby! I would love to see the Greyhound and Metro buses navigate those sand pits. Let’s have a crash derby!

]]>