Rock blasting set for Newport Coast...

Rock blasting set for Newport Coast

Warning sirens today will alert residents to a test blasting that

will take place at a construction site in the Newport Coast area. The

Irvine Community Development Co. will conduct the blast for just

about a second at 4 p.m. today. It will then take place about once a

week for about four weeks south of Signal Peak between Los Trancos

Canyon and Muddy Canyon.

The sound and shockwaves will be directed away from homes, but

those closest to the site will be able to feel the blast; smoke and

dust will be visible. No explosives will be stored at the site.

A no-fly zone will apply for about 30 minutes each blast day.

A minute-long siren wail will serve as warning five minutes before

each blast. Then, one minute before the blast, a siren that sounds

like a yelp will sound. The all-clear siren, which will sound between

five and 30 minutes after the blast, is a “high-low” tone.

The blasting will remove bedrock to make way for a residential

development to be built there. Previously, blasting was used to build

Newport Coast Road, Newport Beach Fire officials said.