Blasting at waterfront bluff on River Street resumes Dec. 7

posted on: 11/23/2020

Maine Drilling & Blasting will resume drilling and blasting the bluff on River Street starting Monday, Dec. 7.

The blasting is expected to last less than two weeks and is part of site work related to the Waterfront Development Project on River Street. The project will remove approximately 3,500 cubic yards of the bluff and is the continuation of blasting from February until mid-March 2020. It stopped then to not interfere with the spring fish run.

As before, drilling and blasting operations will occur between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No explosives will be stored at the site overnight. The blasting area will be well marked with highly visible signs detailing the warning sequence whistle sounded before each blast. The sequence is:

• 3 whistles – 5 minutes before blasting
• 2 whistles – 1 minute before blasting
• 1 whistle – all clear; blasting complete

If you happen to be in a nearby home or building during a blast, you may experience low levels of ground vibration. These ground vibrations from the blasting will not exceed established limits that could potentially cause damage. Maine Drilling & Blasting strives to minimize the blast's amplitude and uses the latest blasting industry technology to measure seismic effects to ensure vibrations remain below the established limits.

The blasting is part of a $1,515,337 contract the City of Dover has with Severino Trucking Co. Inc. for bluff removal to prepare the site for future construction; Severino Trucking subcontracted the blasting to Maine Drilling & Blasting. The Cochecho Waterfront Development Advisory Committee (CWDAC) selected the firm Cathartes in 2018 to develop the 23-acre City-owned property that borders the Cochecho River. The CWDAC unanimously approved the development agreement with Cathartes in September of 2019. CWDAC's next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Currently, Cathartes is revising its Phase 1 design plans. Once revised, Cathartes will bring the plans to the Technical Review Committee for review before seeking Planning Board approval.

For more information, contact the Planning Department at (603) 516-6008. For questions or concerns about blasting, contact Christopher Scott of Maine Blasting & Drilling's Safety Department at (603) 232-8538.