QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project

Starting on Tuesday, September 3, blasting will take place twice daily; once at 11:30 a.m. and once at 3:30 p.m. Blasting will continue Monday to Friday twice a day until mid-October. There will be no blasting on weekends or statutory holidays.

During the rock removal phase, activities include drilling, general excavation, rock breaking, hauling away the broken rocks in trucks, and installing underground utilities.

All excavated material leaving the site is tested and classified based on composition and environmental regulations. All bedrock has been determined to be Sulphate bearing Pyritic slate and will be deposited at Halifax Port Authority’s approved Facility for Pyritic Slate.

Each blast will last between 3 to 5 seconds. However, the contractor will be drilling multiple holes through the day to setup for the next blast sequence.

We expect impacts to operations to be minimal. Prior to each blast, communication with the Hospital will confirm a ready to proceed for the contractor to initiate the blast activities onsite.

A comprehensive communication plan has been established between the contractor (PCL) and the client (Build Nova Scotia). An engineered blast plan has been developed and reviewed. Examples of safety measures include flaggers to stop pedestrians during blast times and blasting mats to prevent flying debris.

Erosion & Sediment Control Plans have been implemented on site. In addition, fencing scrim and water trucks for dust mitigation are in place. Licensing has been obtained from the Port Authority for rock disposal and neutralization.

Most people will not notice blasting activities except for the “blast horn” that is familiar to other construction sites throughout the city. Immediately before each blast there will be three short air horn bursts to signal to site personnel the blast is ready. Following the blast, one long air horn burst will signal all clear.

Noise and vibration consultants have installed monitors throughout and around the Halifax Infirmary facility. Boreholes were conducted around the site footprint to gauge depth and type of rock. In accordance with HRM By-law B-600, a pre-blast survey was conducted within 150 metres of the blasting site. The survey captured the existing condition of a structure to provide a record that can be called upon in the event of suspected damage to a building due to blasting activities.

Any blasting-related concerns can be directed to K&M Inspection Consultants Ltd. (phone: 902 457-3144; email: info@kmins.ca). K&M Inspection Consultants hand-delivered a blasting notification on May 23, 2024, to residents and businesses in the vicinity of the construction site, providing their contact information for questions or concerns.