LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Officials issued a response in relation to Tuesday's blasting incident that took place on the site of the Louisville VA Medical Center.
Three independent investigations have begun to ascertain the cause or causes that led to the fragments of rock and sediment being dispersed along the Watterson Expressway and onto adjacent properties causing damage, officials said in the response.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the prime contractor, Walsh-Turner Joint Venture and the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals are conducting these investigations.
Officials said there will be no further blasting until the contractor has demonstrated to the government that appropriate safety measures are in place.
The contractor responsible for blasting on the site has set up email and phone contact methods for those who feel they may have incurred damage due to the incident.
They can be contacted at (502) 515-0072 or through email at VALouisville@walshgroup.com.
All other questions and comments about construction at the site can be sent to the government at LOUVAMCconstruction@usace.army.mil.
Original Story
Blasting at the new Louisville Veteran's Affairs Medical Center has been suspended indefinitely after "an unforeseen incident" Tuesday.
While crews were blasting, ground "fragments" landed on the Watterson Expressway and onto nearby properties, causing damage according to a press release.
No injuries have been reported.
While construction will restart on Wednesday, all blasting will be suspended until the government is confident all appropriate safety measures are in place.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in coordination with the prime contractor, Walsh-Turner Joint Venture II, and the Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals are investigating the matter according to the release.
Though the construction company said blasting is suspended until the safety measures are in place, Josh Woodrow's worried it could happen again.
"I don't know that there's any way to guarantee it won't happen again," he said. "I don't feel good about it at all."
Woodrow lives near the construction site. He spoke while holding his 1-year-old daughter.
"That could've been her sleeping in there, that could've been my wife, pregnant with our son and I was at work the whole time," he said.
While he's happy no one was hurt, Woodrow said he wishes he had known the blasting was happening. He said he hear the blasts every day at 2 p.m.
"It's angering knowing that it happened because some people were notified that this was happening others were not," Woodrow said. "My house is right here, the blasting sign is right in front of my house, but my house is not officially in the blasting zone."
Laura Carmona also lives just feet away from the construction site.
She showed WHAS11 a huge hole in her bathroom ceiling, which was caused by a rock that flew through her roof.
Debris lines her bathroom sink, toilet and floor.
"It was really, really scary," Carmona said. "Terrible noise. Terrible sounds. It was like an earthquake, something like that. I was in shock."
Anyone who believes they have sustained damage due to the blasting should email USACE Public Affairs.
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