Basalt Blasting Creates A Splash In Mt Eden

Basalt blasting has started at the Mt Eden Station site this month.

These controlled explosions are needed to help excavate the two trenches that are required for movement of our tunnel boring machine into the tunnel portal.

Ultimately these trenches will contain the new City Rail Link tracks that will connect the new underground rail tunnels to the existing Western Line nearby.

Blasting this hard, volcanic rock is the most effective way to fracture it for removal and avoids the need for prolonged and disruptive rock-breaking activities.

It will be managed by a series of controlled blasts using small explosive charges, similar to that used during a previous stormwater diversion project for CRL in the same area.
 
Special blasting mats will be placed over the charge site to minimise rising dust and prevent any small fragments of flying rock.

To find out more about this process, or to sign up to the Mt Eden Station newsletter, please click here.