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‘Just
bear with us’
THE
Dublin Port Tunnel (DPT) project team hit back this
week at accusations that they had breached the statutory
limitation on working hours for the project.
They were also accused of failing to adhere to an agreement
with local residents that the public 'hotline' phone
would be "adequately manned" to deal with
complaints arising from noise disturbance associated
with tunnel works.
The secretary of the Marino Development Action Group
(MDAG), Fintan Cassidy, claimed that although the main
Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) has completed its first
run to Fairview Park, there is still an unacceptable
amount of noise from construction activities going on
beneath houses.
"At
the moment they are cutting and drilling out fire-fighting
niches or alcoves through the sides of the tunnel wall,"
Mr Cassidy said. "This is extremely noisy, especially
in the evenings when they are supposed to finish such
work at 8pm, as stipulated in the Environmental Impact
Study for the project."
Mr Cassidy claimed that he rang the “hotline”
to complain and asked them to stop the work but it was
answered by a security guard who did not know what was
going on.
Mr Cassidy added that Dublin City Council told residents
in June that the hotline would be manned at all times
while works were in progress and that all staff would
respond promptly to notices of complaints.
"Despite
complaints from several residents in the Marino area,
the noisy drilling works continued again the following
evening," claimed Mr Cassidy.
The Northside People contacted the DPT for comment on
the latest criticisms. They said that according to a
survey they undertook in May, there is large support
for additional working hours.
This survey took place within the 30m zone of influence
of the tunnel boring machine (TBM 1) in the Marino,
Fairview and Griffith areas.
A spokesman for DPT, said that 77 per cent of the residents
who participated in the survey expressed their support
for the extra working hours.
"Also,
97 per cent of residents surveyed stated that they would
like to see the project successfully completed on time
and 90 per cent expressed the view that Dublin Port
Tunnel would be a positive development for Dublin,"
he said.
The spokesman also explained that the TBM 1 is being
turned around in Fairview Park and is due to start its
return journey in approximately three months' time.
"Most
residents have expressed the view that the effect of
the cross passage construction is minimal and low in
comparison to the TBM impact,” he said. “When
the hard rock TBM is operational during business hours,
the information line is manned by our office engineering
staff who can respond to callers’ queries and concerns.
"At
other times the phone is manned by our security staff
who have access to the site engineers and site works'
managers who can respond to callers’ concerns and
queries. At all times our staff try to respond to residents'
concerns as quickly as possible."
No
light at the end of the tunnel: Fintan Cassidy of
the Marino Development Action Group claims complaints
regarding tunnel works have been ignored. FILE PHOTO
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