Second Avenue Subway Blasting Resumes At 72nd Street Station
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Blasting for the Second Avenue subway line resumes Friday at the 72nd Street station after a controlled blast last month sent rocks and debris flying into the streets.
On Thursday, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that all blasting for the project will now be subject to more scrutiny and protections.
1010 WINS' John Montone reports
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Blasting for the project was put on hold following the Aug. 21 incident. Workers were blasting to create an escalator when two 1,800-pound steel plates were lifted. Rocks and concrete went flying and at least a half-dozen windows were broken.
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The MTA has determined the cause of the incident was human error and the person responsible has been suspended, according to the MTA.
EXTRA: Read MTA's Report On Blasting Incident
Some of the new safety measures put in place include requiring a superintendent to sign off on a pre-blast checklist and having a second licensed blaster to verify that each blast has been prepared in accordance with the approved blast plans, according to the MTA.
Blasting in the shaft itself will resume next week with a double layer of protective mats. Additional workers will also be on hand to verify procedures have been followed.
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