Canal wall reconstruction causes vibrations

The canal wall reconstruction which has been underway in the Village of Brockport for the past few weeks is causing some shaking, rattling and rolling, according to business owners.

R. Scott Winner, the village's economic development coordinator, said at the February 18 board meeting that he had been in contact with Chatfield Engineers and representatives from Crane and Hogan, the company performing the reconstruction. "We've had word of some vibrations in some of the businesses that border the construction site," he said. "We have been photographing various businesses in the event we need photographic evidence of any damage."
Winner said that up to this point, there have been no reports of any structural damage to any of the businesses. "We're just trying to make certain that we have documentation in case any buildings are damaged," Winner explained. "We don't expect there will be any problems but any time you are engaged in a heavy duty project like this there may be side effects."

The fact that vibrations can be felt is a testament to the workmanship that went into the canal's construction, he said. "The walls are massive structures ... that's why they have held up for so long."

Problems seem to be at their worst, Winner said, when the crews encounter a solid chuck of sandstone or rock. "These chunks create the most intense (vibrations) but unfortunately there is no way around it," he said. "The way the crews are doing it is the most effective way to get the job done." The $535,217 construction project involves grinding down the "soft, punky" concrete, putting in reinforcing steel, embedding dowels and putting on a new concrete face.

Because the water is scheduled to go back into the canal around April 15, the project will likely be completed by April 5. Work was slated to take 12 weeks. The construction is on the canal wall between Main Street and Park Avenue.

The project was undertaken because the canal wall is deteriorating from age and wear and tear and is part of canalside revitalization efforts.