Common Council

Construction Blasting Notification from University Research Park : 08/20/18 to 09/07/18

Please see the notice below from University Research Park about the possibility of blasting for the next three weeks at a construction site in University Research Park. The contractor has obtained the appropriate state permits and is working with the Madison Fire Department. They have sent out notifications to all buildings and businesses within 1000 feet of the construction zone, but I wanted to share this notice here as well:

The University Research Park has commenced excavation at 501 Charmany Drive for a new underground parking and office building facility for Exact Sciences. The excavator hit rock this week. Consequently, Falcon Blasting is preparing to remove subsurface rock through blasting, particularly near Charmany Dr. Blasting fractures the rock so that it can be removed. The actual blasting will be experienced as a sound and a vibration "thump", not a dramatic visual event like you see in movies. The nearby [residential] neighborhoods are outside the radius where any minimal impact, such as vibration, is expected. 

Blasting may occur between August 20 – September 7, however actual blasting will only be known on a day to day basis. Permitted time windows for blasting will be established for the three weeks, with three 1-hour blast time windows set per day:  9-10am, noon-1pm, and 4-5pm. An air horn in the field will sound three (3) blasts immediately before each blast. After confirmation that all explosives were successfully detonated, and single "all clear" blast will announce that the work is complete. Findorff will be controlling vehicle and pedestrian safety in the affected area for safety.

In accordance with standard precautionary procedures, we have inspected buildings within 350 feet of the blast location and are monitoring buildings within this radius for vibrations. The nearest residences are approximately a third of a mile from the construction site. We don't expect neighbors to experience any impact.