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Neighbours of new Cowichan hospital work site will see noise, traffic disruptions during concrete pour

Project given permission to work outside normal working hours for short period
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Neighbours of the new Cowichan District Hospital work site can expect noise and traffic disruptions outside normal working hours for a short period in late April. (Robert Barron/Citizen))

Residents around the work site of the new $1.45 billion Cowichan District Hospital can expect noise in the area well outside of normal work hours for a short period of time in late April.

North Cowichan gave approval for work to occur outside normal working hours at the hospital site on Bell McKinnon Road during that time at its meeting on May 15.

According to a staff report by David Conway, North Cowichan director of engineering, that was part of the agenda for the council meeting, the municipality’s noise bylaw restricts the typical noise coming from construction sites to the hours between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

RELATED STORY: SOME COWICHAN TRIBE WORKERS HEADING BACK TO NEW HOSPITAL SITE

Conway said the new hospital project is one of the largest building projects in North Cowichan in a generation and it can’t comply with the noise bylaw during extensive, continuous, but short-term requirements for actions such as a large concrete pour that is estimated will take 16 to 20 hours to complete, and will require concrete and trucking from at least two sources.

He said EllisDon, the general contractor for the hospital project, has proactively reached out seeking solutions from the municipality by suspending the noise bylaw for specific activities, such as the raft-slab concrete pour of 3,000 cubic yards, which is about the amount that will take approximately 375 regular concrete truck loads to accomplish.

This concrete pour is scheduled for the latter half of April, with the exact date to be determined.

“Staff believe there is no alternative but to allow the project to proceed outside the regular working hours for the raft-slab pour,” Conway said.

“Restricting the hours would result in redesigning the foundations solely on the basis of noise over one day, which is nonsensical.”

Conway said staff also believe that council should authorize municipal authorities to use their discretion when directing bylaw compliance officers to enforce noise infractions pertaining to the hospital site when deemed appropriate.

RELATED STORY: COSTS OF NEW COWICHAN HOSPITAL INCREASE TO $1.45 BILLION

He said potential mitigation options North Cowichan should consider include installing information signs in the neighbourhood to give warning of the upcoming disruptions to traffic on Bell McKinnon Road, and to expect noise outside of regularly permitted hours.

Conway said the signs would give warnings well in advance to allow residents to adjust their activities and schedules as needed.

He also suggested that the municipality should have a detailed traffic-management plan submitted by the contractor well in advance so that the work can be performed safely and efficiently.

“With 375 trucks on Bell McKinnon Road, it will be noticed,” Conway said.

“Residents will also need to be informed of the heavy traffic during the day of the pour and to expect delays, noise and either mud or dust. It is unavoidable. Staff will be on the lookout for resulting road damage and require repairs as needed.”



robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com

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