GREENSTONE – In early May, residents were warned of blasting work being performed by Enbridge Gas as they prepare to install new pipelines leading to the Equinox open-pit gold mine.
The Municipality of Greenstone told residents that daily blasting would be a couple of weeks, but as the construction continues Greenstone Gold Mine will be conducting scheduled blasts within the Project Area and within the Highway 11 Realignment Area.
However, traffic disruptions are causing a site of contention for the residents of Geraldton-Beardmore Greenstone Belt as work along Highway 11 is taking longer than expected.
“I think for the resident there is an adjustment, and for all of us as we are going down the highway speed limits have changed, but please, please let’s try to cooperate and soon we’ll see when everything will get back to normal in regard to the highway,” Greenstone's Mayor Renald Beaulieu asks for the public’s co-operation and to respect for the mining activity.
Equinox Gold says that blasting will occur on a regular basis during the construction and operations phases of the project, and they have placed ‘No Trespassing’ signs within the former Barton Bay Trail area due to intensive work for the Highway 11 Realignment.
In an effort to establish an open gold mine south of Geraldton near the Highway 11 and Highway 584 intersection, a bypass is being developed to allow traffic to continue.
Highway 11 will be widened near the Main Access Road in early June.
Construction will take approximately one month with lane reductions in place for much of that time. Traffic management protocols will be in place according to Ontario Ministry of Transport requirements.