I haven't seen anything in the newspapers, but there is going to be some blasting taking place soon related to the Round Lake Bypass. Emergency Services folks and the Town have been notified. I think they are going to put something on their emergency message boards to let folks know just when.

Will that have any effect on our water supply??
The wells.

Pastor Klotz, do you know when the bypass road's roundabouts will be built and when the road will be open for traffic?

Viola, this would be blasting near the surface, while wells are drilled deep into the bedrock, so I wouldn't expect any impact. Also, the nearest well is quite a distance away, though the folks that own the Starting Gate Cottages might have some concern. You know, I bet our resident geological expert can shed more light on this. SHO?

Blasting does not affect water supply, blasting sends out seismic waves that move the ground maybe a millimeter for a fraction of a second. You probably get more of a seismic affect from the speedway, and at longer durations too.

I've actually been involved will numerous instances of blasting in quarries that excavate limestone and sandstone. These rocks are much more dense and stronger than the rock to be blasted for the round-lake bypass (Snake-Hill Shale with interbeded layers of siltstone) a realativley soft and weak unit.

The blasting that rountinely happens at quarries occure close to 25 times anually and are alot larger in scale and intensity.

And actually local concerns almost exclusivley follow that same thought, that is the saftey of local ground water, the fears of this are 99.9 percent of the time unfounded.

quote:

Originally posted by Roy:
Pastor Klotz, do you know when the bypass road's roundabouts will be built and when the road will be open for traffic?

The DOT news release from October 2007 says substantial completion by summer 2009.

Good info from both of you, thanks!

Does anyone know when blasting is supposed to occurre? You can actually see the blasting area from the northway, they have all the charges set and capped. but its been like that for close to a week.

Just curious.

I think it has already begun. They began before Xmas and took a break over the holidays. I doubt you can see the charges set and left. They set one charge at a time and blow it the same day.

Some folks near the construction site are reporting damage aparently caused by the blasting; wells, cracks.... If you know of anyone who is experienceing this, have them contact DOT: John Nolan (no relation to anyone, that I'm aware of) 899-8047

Unless their basements are made out of paper maché this is IMPOSSIBLE.Underline 50 sized font bold impossible.

if you are blasting within 50 feet with heavy ampho, or use a nuke or equivalent explosive power then I could see. Otherwise You can't crack a concrete or cinderblock basement.

I mean we've had what? close to 4 earthquakes in the area over the past 20 years registering around 4 or 5 on the richter scale? The explosive power of what they used to to make that road cut would bearly register a 1 within a mile radius of ground zero.

It takes a 5-6 to crack masonry and close to 6-7 to crack concrete or cinder.

And Mr. Klotz, I know you're juyst trying to help out and I appreciate that. But taking into consieration that the genral public is borderline retarded on all things science, and also the possibility of getting money from the state...

I just highly doubt the veracity of these claims.

I certainly yield to your expertise in this. It's up to folks other than me to determine what's possible. DOT is taking statements from people who are claiming to have damage. I'm just trying to give folks the opportunity to be heard.

Hello Peter, we do value your information, but now that you are an elected official, shouldn't your statements on here come out as official statements from the Town of Malta's website?

When you make a statement about contacting DOT, shouldn't it be done as a press release from the Board or Town Supervsior and not on a messageboard run by a private anonymous homeowner?

Thank you.

Peter, understood and appreciated!

quote:

Originally posted by DA:
Hello Peter, we do value your information, but now that you are an elected official, shouldn't your statements on here come out as official statements from the Town of Malta's website?

When you make a statement about contacting DOT, shouldn't it be done as a press release from the Board or Town Supervsior and not on a messageboard run by a private anonymous homeowner?

Thank you.

Interesting point.
There was a reporter at the public meeting with DOT that I attended last week, so what I shared is not info that I have only by way of my elected position.
The web master (web mistress) of the Town website is a very busy person and those who want info (or who want to register complaints) are often impatient and not everyone checks that site for information.
Waiting for the next meeting of the Town Board to make a statement on behalf of the entire Town Board would be impractical. It would likewise delay the sharing of info that is already in the public domain.
The Town Supervisor speaks for himself. He only speaks for me and the rest of the Town Board after we approve what he says on our behalf.
Any one at any time should contact any agency (state or otherwise) if they have a concern.

I see this website as one of meny outlets for information

So I guess the short answer is no, I don't think I should have done otherwise.

That explanation works for me. I value your input here, Peter, and having someone share factual public information about the town is what this site is all about, imho.

SHO, my guess on the people filing complaints is that they already had cracks in their foundations from years of water freezing and thawing around it, and they just noticed (or thought they could cash in). Foundation cracks are pretty common here in the Northeast, and it has nothing to do with blasting or earthquakes.

Roy,

yeah I agree. to put it simply, there's a state agency with pockets so deep they're borderline non-existant.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

quote:

Originally posted by Peter Klotz Sr.:
The Town Supervisor speaks for himself. He only speaks for me and the rest of the Town Board after we approve what he says on our behalf.