Construction is set to resume Monday near the intersection of Brook Hollow and Lone Oak roads.
On July 9, city workers were using explosives to clear rock when one blast sent rock and debris hurtling toward Willowbrook Condominiums. The explosion shattered several windows at the condominiums and a few parked vehicles. It also sprayed rock and mud, which caused scrapes, gouges and dents at the property.
No one was injured, but work was put on hold. The State Fire Marshal’s Office investigated cause of the misfire and has now approved the resumption of infrastructure improvements along Lone Oak Road – technically identified as the Lone Oak Road Multiuse Trail and Water Line Project.
Water/Sewer Director Tom Witherspoon sent residents a letter explaining the situation, including a summary of the project, an overview of the event that happened July 9, the actions the city plans to take to reduce the potential for a reoccurrence and a communications guide to provide public notice of when a blast is about to occur.
“In short, there was an inconsistency in the rock formation that caused the energy to blast in a lateral direction,” he said. “While the area was protected, it was not sufficient to hold the flying debris caused by that inconsistency.”
The city’s insurance adjuster has since worked with property owners to facilitate repairs, and an independent review of what factors contributed to the incident was performed by Vibration Control Engineers of Nashville.
Based on the engineering firm’s findings, the city submitted a plan to prevent further incidences to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. In addition, an enhanced communication plan has been implemented to ensure residents are notified before blasting occurs.
“Although not required, we have also elected to limit blasting to Monday through Friday and between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” Witherspoon said.
Residents within 250-500 feet of the work site were notified Thursday afternoon via an informational door hanger that the project would resume.
“We are committed to completing this project in a safe manner, using the methods that we have implemented for many years as well as additional steps to ensure safety,” he added.
The city plans to use precautionary procedures prior to each blast at the Lone Oak Project. A series of long horn blasts will be sounded five minutes before a blast. A series of short horn blasts will be sounded one minute before a blast, and one long horn blast will be sounded after the blast as an all clear signal.
The city also will attempt to verbally contact all residents in the immediate blast area prior to blasting, and residents will be given the opportunity to move vehicles before blasting. Residents are asked to stay away from windows and the part of their structure facing the blast area while blasting occurs.