Last month, crews began working 20 hours a day (two 10-hour shifts). The night work includes construction of a 2,000-foot tunnel under the main dam’s right (east) abutment to both fill and deliver water from the reservoir. Excavation of the tunnel’s downstream portion began in early April and will be completed by the end of the year.  

Barnard and the Municipal Subdistrict recently made significant changes to blasting operations to further mitigate noise and impacts to the Chimney Hollow community. By the end of this week, tunnel crews will excavate around a bend, which should result in further reductions of blasting noise. Beginning Monday, July 18, tunnel blasting will move to a 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. window. 

Weekly blasting schedules will be posted by 5 p.m. each Friday to our Construction webpage. Blasting may be delayed due to weather and if this happens, the website will be updated as needed.