Explosions at the new Montezuma-Cortez High School site are expected any day.
Officials with Nunn Construction Inc. issued the warning this week, indicating the company needed to blast rock from the 35-acre site in order to pour concrete foundations for the proposed two-story 152,500-square-foot school.
“We hope to begin blasting next week,” said company spokesperson Ralph Wegner.
Officials said blasting would occur twice daily at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., requiring the closure of eastbound traffic on 7th Street starting at South Madison Street as well as southbound traffic on Sligo Street starting from the south entrance of Wal-mart.
“The road closures will last 10 to 15 minutes in the morning and afternoon,” Wegner said.
Expected to take up to two weeks, the blasting operations will be closely monitored and choreographed with city police, fire, engineering and code enforcement officials.
A sub-contractor will drill holes, load and shoot the dynamite charges, Wegner added. Non-construction personnel will not be allowed on or near the area during blasting.
The new $33.7 million high school is expected to open in fall 2015.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com