News

Cross River Rail, Queensland’s largest infrastructure project, will test underground blasting at the site of the new Albert Street underground station and the new Woolloongabba station site, in a move to speed up excavation works and reduce longer term construction impact on local residents and businesses.

The low-impact controlled blasting trials are being undertaken ahead of a program of controlled blasting from late July through August.

The Project has 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.

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 predict the noise and vibration levels which can be expected from a program of blasting to be done from late 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 Project has assured local residents and businesses that blasting at inner-city construction sites is not as dramatic or drastic as it sounds.

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.

These multiple layers prevent debris and dust, as well as reduce the impact of noise and vibration.

Those in close proximity to the site may hear and feel the controlled blast, with the sound similar to rumbling thunder and only slight vibrations felt.

Test blasting at the Albert Street site will be conducted first and is expected to commence late in the week commencing 6 July 2020, with the Woolloongabba site soon to follow.

Other information:

• Residents will be notified at least 48 hours in advance of any blasting activities and a siren will sound immediately before blasting.
• There may be pedestrian and traffic changes surrounding the sites.
• The test blasts will be conducted early to mid-July.
• The program of controlled blasts will be carried out from July through August 2020.
• Blasting will be done between 7.30am and 4.30pm.
• No blasting will take place on Sundays or public holidays.