Two blasting violations in six days have left construction at Merrimack Premium Outlets on shaky ground.
Over the last week, work crews, blasting rock at the 130-store outlet mall under construction near Exit 10 off the F.E. Everett Turnpike, have twice exceeded the maximum levels set by the planning board in the town’s development agreement, officials acknowledged this week.
On Friday, an underground blast exceeded the permitted decibel levels, allowing sound to project into the air, according to Fire Chief Michael Currier. And three days later, a second explosion exceeded vibration levels on Monday, drawing complaints of property damage from at least two neighbors.
Town officials, who met earlier this week with the project blasting firm, Maine Blasting and Drilling in Auburn, did not stop the blasting work.
But they won’t hesitate to pull the necessary blasting permits if the violations persist, said Currier, the town’s blasting authority.
Representatives from Maine Blasting did not return requests for comment Thursday.
“We’re not even a quarter of the way through the project and we’ve already had two issues in a period of four days.” Currier said. “If this continues, we’ll have to look more in-depth into why this is happening and what needs to be done about it.”
Neighbors and opponents of the controversial project have complained about the construction work since crews began blasting early last month.
The blasts have shaken area houses more than once, neighbors say.
In November, one area resident, Beth Burns, of Spruce Street, complained that the explosions cut off power to her home.
And Monday’s blasts, one of which exceeded the vibration levels, damaged at least two other area houses, according to complaints filed with the town.
Nancy Harrington’s Spruce Street home suffered three cracks in the drywall, according to the complaint forms, and a cellar window was damaged at George Adams’ Cedar Lane house, Adams said Thursday.
“I was here when it happened. I heard it snap and everything,” he said. “We knew it was going to be strong in this neighborhood, but this is too much.”
Premium Outlets, the project developer, held an informal ground-breaking ceremony in September.
But they didn’t start blasting work on the site until early November, after town officials signed off on a formal blasting plan.
Under the plan, construction crews are permitted to conduct the blasting from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, not including specified holidays.
The work will likely last six to eight months, though blasts will not be conducted daily, according to town documents.
Development group officials have worked with the town to adjustment the blasting when necessary, according to Michele Rothstein, the company’s senior vice president of marketing.
Company officials are hoping to have the first phase of the project, including 100 stores over 392,000 square feet, complete and open by 2012.
But any further issues could cause construction delays, prompting the town to call in a third party to review all calculations prior to each blast, said Currier, the town fire chief. “If they’re not going to do make sure it’s done properly, we’ll have to,” he said.
“I don’t want to anything to stop. Any delays are just going to keep it going longer,” said Harrington, whose Spruce Street home was damaged in the blast.
“I just want to make sure it’s done right,” she said. Let’s just do it right so there’s no damage.”
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