Banging in Toronto. GO Transit Pile-driving. Spring 2009.

GO Transit's promise that it will test less nerve-jangling construction techniques on the Georgetown rail line hasn't quieted the concerns of residents living near the West Toronto Diamond rail expansion.

They have issued a deadline of Friday for GO to cease the ear-splitting, ground-shaking diesel piledriver operation that has been a daily feature of life in the Junction since January.

In a letter last Thursday, residents asked the transit agency to issue a firm schedule today of when and where alternative techniques and noise-baffling measures will be in place.

The construction, which involves driving watertight steel into the ground for a rail tunnel, is part of a massive corridor expansion. The diamond is where two sets of tracks intersect.

If GO doesn't offer a firm commitment, the residents say they will ask the Canadian Transportation Agency for mediation in the dispute, something GO maintains isn't necessary.

Residents also want GO to commit to landscaping the affected areas extensively.

But GO isn't in a position to offer dates or assurances, and it won't stop construction, said Michael Wolczyk, the company's director of rail infrastructure.

"We're not going to suspend the work. We need to finish it. This project has some big benefits for the community ... Every time a freight train goes over it is quite loud. By depressing it, it takes away that pounding, which is noise and vibration with every train."

The project, Wolczyk pointed out, will allow for improved GO service, and delaying it "may not have much in the way of benefits."

Wolczyk also said stopping the use of the diesel hammers on the project is not an option. "What is open is how much they're used, and that's what we're working on."

GO is sympathetic to residents, many of whom complain their homes and businesses are untenable between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Piling isn't uncommon, but the length of this project adds to the frustration, Wolczyk said. GO has reduced construction hours, which legally can extend to evenings and weekends, to accommodate residents' concerns.

Testing of a quieter, computer-controlled vibratory hammer began last Thursday. While early results were favourable, a technician is coming from France this week to help with the equipment, which drives the piles 80 per cent of the way in, with less noise and vibration.

The sound of the vibratory hammer is 85 decibels from 45 metres away; the diesel hammers measure about 100 decibels, Wolczyk said.

GO expects the piling to be done by the end of the year. About 550 of 2,400 piles have already been installed. But if the centre wall of the tunnel can be constructed differently, that number and the timeline could be reduced, Wolczyk said.

"We're hoping to resolve this without the need for this step of mediation," said GO spokesperson Vanessa Thomas.

Under the Canadian Transportation Agency rules, both sides of a dispute must agree to mediation. If they don't, the complainant can ask for adjudication by a CTA panel, spokesperson Marc Comeau said.

In that event, a decision is issued in 120 days. The law around rail noise and vibration has been in effect only about two years, he said.
(Toronto Star)

"Pile-driving on this scale completely undermines the livability of the neighbourhood and can be heard from many hundreds of metres away," Palacio writes. "The pile-driving is constant, all day, every day."

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• pile hammers
• Noise
• ear-splitting
• ground-shaking
• Pile-driving

[fia416]

People want more trains, people want a faster trains, people want a train to the airport, people want more route's, people complain about wanting more, but when they try to build a tunnel to make this happen people complain about the building of the tunnel.

[Iceman1769]

Nice Birminghammer! Pile Drivers Rule!

[davee2082]

AT LEAST PEOPLE ARE WORKING ASS FACES

[davee2082]

LOVE THE SOUND

[Piling69]

CALL L.B. FOSTER FOR ALL YOUR STEEL PILING NEEDS!

LB FOSTER.COM

[Piling69]

That's the sound of money!!!

[spcascades]

Nothing like ignorant people that don't understand the construction process for large projects. How the hell do you think most bridges are made? "we want this, but don't make any noise please." Cry me a river.

[61miroman]

Ermac04 yes its plausible but dont tell anyone. We know when we thought about it lets see how much longer it takes to cap that thing. Cheers

[Ermac04]

@61miroman It's funny you should say that actually, we were thinking the same thing around the shop the other day. It's a totally plausible way to contain that spill.

[61miroman]

All right send that machine to the gulf of mexico plug that oil well up what da ya think? Geez that might just work hope someone gets this because the us coast guard didn't 30 days ago.

[Ermac04]

@JunctionTriangle you bought a house next to train tracks! what where you expecting???? chirping birdies and cool ocean breeze???

[Ermac04]

@Bicyclist1 The less noisy way of doing this work is somewhere in the range of 5 to 6 times less efficient. and since the cost of this job will ultimately be passed on to the consumers one way or another.... maybe faster and cheaper is a little better than really slow and really expensive... or maybe a mix of the two?